The artist’s earliest interests, however, were in creating two-dimensional works.

A former student and protégé of legendary artists John T. Scott and Charles White, Payton graduated with a BFA from Xavier University. Payton later obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles where he studied with famed artist Charles White. A native New Orleans, Payton returned to the Crescent City after graduating from Otis. During his twenty-year teaching career, Payton taught at both Southern University at New Orleans and at Xavier University of New Orleans.

Newly graduated from Otis Art Institute, Payton aspired to emulate Charlie White who was known for his stunning documentation of African American historical events and historically important figures such as Harriet Tubman. However, during the course of his career, Payton’s work underwent several stylistic evolutions. As Payton matured as an artist, his inclinations changed. He has developed a powerful body of work in his own unique artist vernacular.

“Broken Time: Sculpture by Martin Payton features 20 steel sculptures by local sculptor Martin Payton. The exhibition focuses on Payton's recent work: his sculpture created in the last twenty years represents his most sophisticated improvised compositions. Inspired by New Orleans jazz musicians who maintain African heritage in the form of polyrhythms, chants, and improvisation, Payton maintains the record of use and wear in his material—scrap metal. Payton welds these materials as found, improvising his sparse, lyrical steel sculptures, which are deeply rooted in the modernist tradition. Striking lines, curves and planes are deepened with nuanced layers of meaning rooted in African symbolism, the African American experience, and jazz.”