Curating the Campus Canvas: Texas Tech Alum to Lead TTU System Public Art
Jan. 14, 2026 | Contact: Kristina Woods Butler
Following an extensive search, the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) Office of Facilities Planning and Construction has appointed Emily Martinez as the new executive director of public art. Martinez
began her position on Jan. 5, 2026.
“I am excited to welcome Emily Martinez as executive director,” TTU System Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning and Construction Billy Breedlove said. “Emily brings a dynamic energy and a fresh perspective that will further enhance the TTU System Public Art Program and its impact across our campuses and communities.”
A Texas Tech University (TTU) alumna, Martinez brings both professional experience and a strong personal connection to the Public Art Program. In her role, she will oversee the strategic planning, selection and management of public art projects across the TTU System, building on the foundation established by former executive director Emily Wilkinson, while also shaping the program’s future with her own vision.
“Her experience will ensure the success of this program,” Breedlove said. “We are confident that under her leadership, the Public Art Program will reach new heights and continue to inspire and educate our students, faculty, staff and communities.”
Martinez began her career with the TTU System Public Art Program as an undergraduate at TTU, working as a student assistant to Wilkinson, who served as her mentor.
After earning her art history degree, Martinez moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where she held various roles at art galleries and museums, including a position with the New York-based gallery, Alexander Berggruen.
“I think I followed the path that many art history majors aim for, which is curatorial work and working in galleries,” Martinez said. “I really enjoyed engaging with the public, and that began to shape my direction.”
In June 2025, Martinez returned to Lubbock and rejoined the TTU System as coordinator of the Public Art Program, where she once again worked closely with Wilkinson. Her work included supporting the University Public Art Committee process, writing grants, and planning and organizing community and campus engagement events and tours. Shortly after her return, Wilkinson announced she would be leaving the TTU System after nearly 12 years leading the program.
“Emily put so much trust in me, and I think that's what makes her so special,” Martinez said. “She doesn't throw you into the water; she guides you and trusts you. I learned a lot from her.”
Martinez said her mentor, along with her education and professional experience, has prepared her for this new role, and she is ready to continue the momentum of the nationally recognized program. She is already taking on some of the largest art projects in the system’s history, including the public art installations for the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center and the Clinical Sciences Building, a multimillion-dollar construction project at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
She plans to continue working closely with campus leaders, clients and art committees to ensure each project reflects the identity, mission and community of the institutions they represent. Martinez said her favorite part of the job is collaborating with these specific groups from different university campuses as they select new works for the public art collection.
“There are many technical details involved in the selection process, but I think the committee members enjoy choosing which piece of art best represents their university,” Martinez said. “They are truly investing in these communities and giving people new things to see and experience. They get to say, ‘This is what represents us,’ and that's a lot of fun for everyone.”
Martinez also emphasized her commitment to continuing the traditions that make the Public Art Program unique, while expanding opportunities for collaboration — including increased student involvement, an area she has already begun to develop.
Soon after returning to the TTU System, Martinez was approached by the TTU Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research about a potential collaboration, sparked by a student’s interest in campus art. The idea soon developed into a meaningful partnership. Martinez introduced the students to the Public Art Program and campus art collections and trained them to lead guided tours. That work continues to shape her vision for more inclusive and educational engagement with public art.
“It's really about getting people excited,” Martinez said. “Whether it's through tours or helping people feel a greater sense of pride in the spaces they are in.”
With a mix of institutional knowledge, creative vision and a passion for access and education, Martinez is prepared to lead the next chapter of public art across the TTU System — curating not just a campus canvas, but a shared experience.
“I genuinely feel so lucky to be here and to have our leadership’s trust and support,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how we can continue to grow.”
About the TTU System Public Art Program
The Texas Tech University System Public Art Program oversees the planning, acquisition, installation and long-term stewardship of public art across the system’s universities and health sciences centers. Guided in part by the state’s one-percent-for-art policy, the program integrates art into academic, research and clinical environments to enrich campus life and support the educational mission of the Texas Tech University System.
The collection features works by nationally and internationally recognized artists and is developed through a collaborative process involving campus leaders, faculty, students and community members. Through campus art tours, educational programs, the recently published book, “Collective Vision,” and digital resources such as Art Trek, the program promotes access, engagement and learning while reflecting the distinct identity of each institution within the system.