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CSM alum Shantell Martin receives MBE at Buckingham Palace

A smiling woman standing infront of Buckingham Palace holding a medal
  • Written byJoy Kirigo
  • Published date 07 August 2025
A smiling woman standing infront of Buckingham Palace holding a medal
Shantell Martin at Buckingham Palace. Photograph by Glenn Dunbar courtesy of Shantell Martin.

Celebrated artist and CSM alum Shantell Martin was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the arts and charity. This recognition follows an Honorary Fellow award from Central Saint Martins in 2023, our highest level of award.

Receiving her MBE was special moment for the artist, and marked a return to her hometown of London after years spent carving out an expansive creative path across Japan, the United States, and beyond.

Known for her signature black-and-white line drawings that explore identity, connection and belonging, Martin’s work has long extended beyond gallery walls. Her impactful work is a cumulation of decades of artistic practice, educational initiatives, and sustained support for schools, nonprofits, and arts organisations worldwide. It’s this blend of creative excellence and community commitment that made the honour especially meaningful.

  • A woman sits on a armchair infront of black and white pieces of art
    Photograph courtesy of Shantell Martin
  • A group of ballet dancers during a performance
    Photograph courtesy of Shantell Martin

A multidisciplinary artist, public speaker and cultural facilitator, Shantell Martin works across fashion, dance and academia. A former student at both Camberwell College of Arts and Central Saint Martins, she has gone on to hold academic roles as an adjunct professor at the MIT Media Lab and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she encouraged students to explore the intersections of storytelling, visual art and technology.

Across her career, Shantell has defied boundaries and created connections between disciplines, contexts and communities, demonstrating the social and transformative power of art, design and cultural practice through her work. As a graduate of CSM, UAL Honorary Doctorate recipient, UAL Ambassador, and passionate champion of creative education, we are thrilled to see her commitment and contribution recognized in this award. Her remarkable achievement is an inspiration.

— Rebecca Wright Dean of S School Creative Enterprise | Graphic Communication Design | Product Ceramic & Industrial Design | Spatial Practices
  • A woman drawing , she's in front of a wall of black and white drawings
    Photograph courtesy of Shantell Martin
  • A white wall of filled with drawings. The drawings are in black against a white wall
    Photograph courtesy of Shantell Martin

Martin has presented solo exhibitions at major institutions including the Denver Art Museum, 92Y Gallery, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and the New Britain Museum of American Art. Her expansive collaborations span from the New York City Ballet and Boston Ballet to acclaimed artists and creatives such as Kendrick Lamar and Lizzo.

Now an Honorary Fellow of UAL, Martin’s recognition with an MBE reflects a remarkable career defined not only by creative innovation, but by a deep and ongoing commitment to making the arts more inclusive and impactful.

Central Saint Martins

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