Venazir Martinez, a Filipina street muralist and visual anthropreneur, is celebrated for her transformative public art that bridges cultural divides and explores the complex intersections of tradition, migration, and identity. Born in the Philippines, she has carved a distinctive path in the global art scene through her vibrant, fragmented, and animated murals that connect communities and histories with her signature red thread motif.
In 2018, Venazir founded the Hilabana movement in Baguio City, Philippines. Translating to "woven path," Hilabana is a groundbreaking initiative that transforms urban spaces into living narratives, stitching together stories of the Filipino diaspora and global communities. The red thread at the heart of her work symbolizes unbroken cultural lineage, resilience, and the invisible bonds linking families, communities, and generations across distances.
Venazir's work has garnered international acclaim, with her large-scale murals narrating tales of migration, cultural preservation, and collective resilience. Her notable piece, Ani – Harvested Hopes, created in San Francisco’s SOMA Pilipinas district, pays homage to the dreams and struggles of multi-ethnic migrant communities. Through collaborations with initiatives like New York City's City Canvas Program, Venazir continues to explore how migration shapes urban landscapes and identities.
Her achievements include solo exhibitions at the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco during Filipino American History Month. In December 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to public art and cultural heritage.
As Hilabana expands globally, Venazir envisions a network of interconnected murals—each a thread in a universal tapestry of identity, resilience, and shared history. Through her art, she invites audiences to explore their roots, reflect on migration's impact, and reimagine their place within an interconnected world.