NSA Visual Arts Faculty
Visual Arts Director - Erik Beehn
Erik Beehn is an artist and educator working out of Las Vegas. Beehn received his MFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago (’15) and is currently adjunct faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Beehn’s work employs painting, photography, printmaking and installation to investigate an arc of mark making techniques throughout the 20th century, with an interest in the evolution of observational painting into abstraction. Beehn is the founder and director of Test Site Projects, a fine art publishing house and project space located in Las Vegas. Beehn’s work is included in permanent collections at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, The Nevada Museum of Art, and The Cleveland Clinic.
Jo Russ
Brian Martinez
Jo Russ
Originally from New Zealand, JK (Joanne) Russ relocated to Las Vegas in 2010 and is known for her surreal collage works where high fashion, high art and hybrid human/creatures merge. She has created large-scale audience-participation collage installations, for the Life is Beautiful festival, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Delano Hotel and UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art.
Brian Martinez
Brian Martinez is a Las Vegas–based painter, muralist, and screen-printer whose work blends bold color, cultural storytelling, and cosmic imagination. Born in Anaheim, California and raised in Las Vegas from the age of six, Martinez was first drawn to visual art through the rising street art movement of the early 2000s. That early fascination with murals and public art continues to inform his dynamic, large-scale compositions today.
A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Martinez also holds a degree from the College of Southern Nevada. While still in high school, he earned an internship with the Joseph Watson Collection, where he worked as a gallery assistant for eight years—an experience that deeply shaped his understanding of contemporary art and professional practice. He now brings that knowledge full circle as an adjunct professor at UNLV and a working artist in the Las Vegas community.
Martinez is a member of the Scrambled Eggs artist collective and has exhibited widely, including his acclaimed solo exhibition Cosmic Chicano at Nuwu Art Gallery & Community Center. In that body of work, he explored Mexican American identity through vibrant acrylic paintings that spill beyond their frames, merging Mesoamerican cosmology, autobiography, and contemporary culture. Recurring imagery—such as the symbolic lucha libre mask—serves as both a personal lens and a celebration of Chicano pride, inviting viewers into what he describes as his “boundless universe.”
Brian’s work is driven by curiosity and intention. He describes painting as a way of learning about the world—an exploration of heritage, spirituality, and community through color and form. Whether creating large-scale murals, intricate screenprints, or expressive acrylic paintings, he approaches each piece as both discovery and dialogue.
In his Beginning Acrylic Painting class, students will gain technical foundations while also learning how to develop their own artistic voice. Martinez encourages experimentation, boldness, and personal storytelling—reminding students that painting is not just about mastering materials, but about finding perspective.
You can view more of his work on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/martinez_brian_/
BUILDING SKILLS, SPARKING IMAGINATION
Continuing our tradition of training tomorrow’s visual artists, NSA’s newly conceived Visual Arts program is designed to assist students in developing their creative skills and broadening their knowledge of professional artistic practices. The brainchild of one of the foremost artists in our city, Erik Beehn, this program is designed for ages 11 and above, providing students with individualized tuition from professional practicing artists. Classes are limited to six students.
JOIN US TO RECEIVE THE MONTHLY NSA "NOTES" NEWSLETTER
Be the first to know about upcoming events, masterclasses competitions, and live performances. Stay up to date on programs and initiatives. Receive NSA’s NOTES Newsletter, containing news and highlights you won’t want to miss. Subscribe and stay connected.
NSA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Nevada School of the Arts is committed to providing a high-quality music and arts education that is affordable and available to all families in our community.
THE NEVADA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IMPACT
NSA IS LOCATED AT
THE HISTORIC FIFTH STREET SCHOOL
A Cultural Oasis in the Heart of Downtown
The school, built in 1936, is a rare example of Mission-style architecture. The single-story building consists of a series of concrete wings connected by tile roofed arcades. Originally housing one of Clark County's first elementary schools, it was recently renovated for use as a cultural oasis in the heart of downtown.
SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION
Your support of our scholarship fund provides all students, regardless of economic background, the necessary support to pursue an education in the arts.
“K. is currently a junior in high school at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and a Piano major at NSA. His love for piano started when he was in 6th grade. That was his toughest year. You see, K. has autism, ADHD, and was later diagnosed as being twice exceptional. From day one since he set foot in school, he became a constant visitor to the principal’s office.
From years of trying to figure out what can help with his behavior, his therapist pointed us to music. He initially started with viola, he was a fast learner, but that wasn’t his cup of tea. As fate would have it, his then viola teacher also had a piano in her house. K. requested to play with it one day and ever since then, he never stopped. His fears and anxiety all disappear once he starts playing the piano. It became his most effective therapy and outlet. His happy place. This once angry, impatient, and defiant young boy has transformed into a calm, polite and compassionate teenager.
He was able to accomplish being a beginner pianist to advance in a matter of 2 years. He hopes to someday grace the concert halls of Juilliard and play his favorite classical music.”