Tess Martin is an award-winning filmmaker/visual artist based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Her work is informed by hand-made animation techniques and their potential to explore our vulnerability in relation to nature, the onslaught of time and the precariousness of memory. She brings her perspective as someone who was raised between cultures to explore themes of belonging, identity and connection.

Many of her projects exist simultaneously as films and installations, often incorporating sculptural elements and individually experienced soundtracks to create intimate durational encounters. She often works with tactile materials such as paper cutouts, paint, ink, sand, and found objects, pushing the boundaries between animation and contemporary art.

Some of her notable short films include Still Life with Woman, Tea, and Letter, Dear Rosa, 1976: Search For Life, and her most recent film How, Now, House?  Her projects often combine experimental storytelling with innovative animation techniques.  She has directed and created multiple music videos using techniques ranging from paper cut-out stop-motion animation to ink painting on glass.. In addition to her artistic practice, Martin has curated animation programs, taught at universities in the U.S. and the Netherlands, and ran the “Manifest Animation Show & Tell” series in Rotterdam for several years. She is frequently invited to speak about her work exploring the nature of time and her path as a working artist.

Her work has been widely presented internationally in both film and exhibition contexts, including festivals, museums, and artist residencies across Europe, North America, and Asia.