Artist Series 2025 | Moyosore Martins

Sometimes, influences from different cultures is exactly what the North American ski industry needs.

To that end, we are so proud that we’ve partnered with Móyòsóré Martins, a self-taught New York-based Nigerian contemporary artist taking the art world by storm. 

Móyòsòre Martins pauses for a moment.

Martins grew up in a tropical climate with a Brazilian father and Nigerian mother, and he often found himself wondering what snow felt like. His only experience of it was from watching the Winter Olympics on TV. And now, after a seemingly impossible journey across the world and through the grueling art world, he’s created artwork for Wagner Custom Skis.

His graphics are vibrant, raw, and so full of metaphors, you’ll discover new meaning every life ride. With a deeply narrative style, his work has elements of his family’s tribal Yoruban roots and his extensive travels through London, New York, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. He’s also influenced by his spirituality, and describes his inspiration as a force that he simply must create into art.

Martins was discovered by the art world during the pandemic—some of his work is now estimated to be worth nearly $70,000 and investor and art collector Asher Edelman is one of his top collectors—and he also employs his talent in graphics, product design, and music. We feel so grateful to be able to showcase his work on our skis. We caught up with Martins recently, and here’s what he had to say.

"Eyes That See" by Móyòsóré Martins

Wagner: Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?
Martins: I didn’t always know. It’s something I always felt. It’s something I always felt within because I tend to find myself seeing things differently and I’m able to create something out of nothing.

Wagner: How did you get your start?
Martins: I was discovered during the pandemic after painting for so many years. I finally got to sell my first piece after six and half years after moving to New York from Lagos, Nigeria.   

"No Exit" by Móyòsóré Martins

Wagner: What inspires you? 
Martins: Life inspires me, food, good music, time, era, human characters, and projections.   

Wagner: What is your process like? 
Martins: Solitude is a very important part of my process. Searching within. I have a routine that I live by that enables me to tap into a greater energy, and I’m very spiritual.   

Wagner: What was it like moving to New York City from Nigeria? 
Martins: Moving to New York City from Nigeria was a dream come true. It was a huge culture shock and extremely inspiring. It’s how I found myself professionally and personally and became free.   

"Raw Thoughts" by Móyòsóré Martins

Wagner: Your paintings are narrative. Can you talk about how this particular form of self-expression works for you?  
Martins: It’s my natural form of communication, living behind blueprints and archiving time, moments, and emotions.   

Wagner: Do you have that experience artists talk about of almost surrendering to the creative force? Like you are the conduit for it? 
Martins: Yes, absolutely. I have visions that force me to create, and if I don’t, I'll be extremely uncomfortable the way they can manifest.   

"Scratch" by Móyòsóré Martins

Wagner: What are you hoping people take away from your work?
Martins: I hope people have the opportunity to study my technique, palette, iconography, and messages in art schools all over the world, especially since I am self taught and didn’t have the opportunity to do so.   

Wagner: Did you ever imagine that your work would be on what is probably an unlikely medium, i.e. skis? 
Martins: Growing up in Africa I was always enamoured by how magical snow can be, and now, it’s even more so to see my designs translated for that experience.   

Click here to see more of Martin’s work.

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