Untitled (River Bank)

Kenneth Frederick Stanley Martin (1914–2010), commonly referred to as Ken Martin, was a Canadian landscape painter primarily known for his depictions of the Manitoba prairie and Northwestern Ontario. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he received his early education at Isaac Brock School and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate before enrolling at the Winnipeg School of Art. In 1938, he began his professional career as an apprentice commercial artist at Brigdens Limited in Winnipeg, a firm noted for producing artwork for the Eaton’s catalogues.

His career was interrupted by the Second World War, during which he served as an aerial photographer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following his return to civilian life, he resumed his tenure at Brigdens, eventually rising to the position of Art Director. Upon his early retirement from commercial art, Martin turned his focus to full-time painting, working in oils, acrylics, and watercolours. He frequently traveled to the Whiteshell region and Northwestern Ontario for subject matter, though he remained particularly dedicated to documenting the changing environment of Lake Winnipeg near his cottage at Ponemah.

Martin's artistic style was influenced by the works of the Group of Seven and Lemoine FitzGerald. He was an active figure in the regional art community, serving as president of the Manitoba Society of Artists, where he was also an honorary member. His practice emphasized a meticulous and sensitive recording of seasonal shifts within the Canadian landscape.

His works are held in various public institutional collections across Canada. Biographical records and files pertaining to his career are maintained by the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He continued to reside and work in Winnipeg until his death in 2010.