George Martin: A Gentle Giant Who Touched Us All

WALKING INTO THE Patina-V showroom in Manhattan was like crossing the threshold into another place and another state of mind: George Talbott Martin, a gentle soul by every account, was the creative visionary who brought mannequins to life in settings that captivated all who entered his domain. With his strong architectural background, his concept of a showroom reflected what was happening in design at the time. Always a season ahead, he wanted to show potential customers what their stores could look like in the coming months. A mannequin designer extraordinaire, Martin passed away due to natural causes on Aug. 25, with family members at his side.

His career path was an exciting journey through many facets of the industry, from window design at May Company’s iconic store on Wilshire with its celebrated art deco and Streamline Moderne building to the founding of Patina-V in December 1987.

After graduating with a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California, Martin, born in New Orleans to a Honduran mother and an American father, took a job at an architectural firm in Newport Beach, Calif. While his educational background in art and architecture was impressive, he didn’t envision himself sitting behind a drawing board detailing architectural blueprints.

Martin’s meteoric rise in the visual merchandising industry as a mannequin designer skipped a step when he went directly from a branch store position as a visual merchandising manager at Robinson’s in Southern California to Creative Director at Greneker in Los Angeles.

With his background in architecture, Martin always maintained a certain level of discipline. He would strive toward the high mark while continuing to examine the possibilities. Martin was quick to credit his team of sculptors, including Michael Zadowics, Tanya Ragir, Justine Poole, and John Jebb, for the company’s success as he maintained that it was the unnamed team members who changed dreams into reality. After an illustrious and influential career, the much admired and mild-mannered designer retired from Patina-V in 2011.

Martin always considered mannequins to be an art form. As such, he approached his work with passion, dedication and vision. During the course of his remarkable career, he left an indelible mark on the industry he loved and the people who got to know him. He will be sorely missed.