Since 1992 Soraida Martinez has been known as the creator of Verdadism, a form of hard-edge abstraction where each painting is accompanied by a written social commentary. The artist’s goal is to promote tolerance and a deeper understanding of humanity through engaging the viewer in a thought-provoking conversation on diversity, empowerment, and social justice.

Soraida’s Verdadism art aims to connect two distinct, yet integral parts: the visual and the written word. Viewers are drawn to both her abstract paintings and her commentaries on humanity and the universal human condition. According to Soraida’s artist’s statement, “My art reflects the essence of my true self and the truth within me...my struggle is for recognition, acceptance, and inclusion; and, against racism, sexism, and the dominant Eurocentric male society, which never expected much from me but still did not allow my voice to be heard. My belief is that one must empower oneself with one’s own truth.”

Soraida has gained recognition and received many awards for this unique thought-provoking and visually stimulating art style. Among many other social and philosophical issues, her Verdadism paintings also address sexism, racism, and stereotyping for the purpose of promoting hope, peace, tolerance, and social change. In 1999, she wrote a book on the Art of Verdadism, “Soraida’s Verdadism: The Intellectual Voice of a Puerto Rican Woman on Canvas; Unique, Controversial Images and Style.”

For three consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010), the artist was chosen by the Department of State as one of the 15 most prominent Hispanic Americans shaping the U.S. cultural scene. In a Huffington Post Latino Voices’ 2013 article she was named among “10 of the best Latino Artists in the US”. In 2016, she was honored for her contributions to the Latino community with a cultural legacy award, presented by The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey. In 2017, she was chosen for a solo Women’s History Month exhibition at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park Museum in Seneca Falls, New York.

From 1996 to 1999, Soraida served as a member of the New Jersey State Council on The Arts. She also participated as an adviser in a think tank to bring the Trenton State Museum in New Jersey up to date with the community of Trenton.

Since starting Verdadism, Soraida has been holding Art Talks and Exhibitions at colleges and universities throughout the Northeast. She also opened the Verdadism Art Gallery in Southern New Jersey. Currently, she is working on another book on the Art of Verdadism and an exhibition of her latest paintings, for the 30-year retrospective of her Verdadism Art.