CV
"The communication between viewer and artwork, or self and other, are vast in the case of Samantha Wilson’s work. Our attention is immediately caught in the forms that loom over us, engaging presences. Large scale figures and bodily forms rendered in charcoal and ink stare out in uncompromising and stark confrontation. Wilson chooses pastel shades and ominous pinks against the shadowy, smoky contrast of charcoal to draw beautiful yet provocative reflections of individual characters" - New Blood Art
Artist Statement
Samantha Wilson’s figurative drawings and paintings employ visual tensions through ambiguity and the unresolved. Her work contemplates social, political and cross cultural human experiences, with a recent focus on mass displacement within Europe. Informed by a self collected photography archive, paintings reimagine the photographic image. Liquid watercolour, powder pigments, charcoal and oil paint are pushed back and pulled forward to reveal and conceal bodies, faces and identities, intentionally straddling abstraction and narrativity. Works seek to provoke empathetic responses and illuminate cross-cultural differences, and ultimately the necessity for compassionate relating, regardless of race, age, gender or political status.
Bio
A visual artist from Scotland, Samantha received a Bachelors of Fine Art with first class honours and a Masters of Fine Art with distinction (2015) from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Scotland. After participating in multiple international artist residencies in Europe, India and Kenya and working in Lisbon, Portugal for five years, she returned to the UK in 2022 to pursue a Master of Research at the Royal College of Art in London.
EDUCATION
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, LONDON UK
MRes in Art & Humanities | Sep 2022 - Sep 2023
DUNCAN OF JORDANSTONE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN, DUNDEE, UK
Masters in Art & Humanities with Distinction | Sep 2014 - Nov 2015
DUNCAN OF JORDANSTONE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN, UK
Bachelors in Fine Art with First Class Honours | Sep 2010 - Jun 2014
OCAD UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, ON, CANADA
Bachelors in Fine Art | Aug 2012 - Dec 2012
DUNDEE COLLEGE, DUNDEE, UK
HNC in Contemporary Art Practices | Sep 2008 - Jun 2010
EXHIBITIONS
UPCOMING
Thursday 2nd - Saturday 11th March 10-5pm - RBA 200th Anniversary Group Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
Monday 27th - Thursday 30th March 2023, 10-6pm - WIP Show, Cooke Latham Gallery, London.
July 2023 - Earthwise, Group show, Beaconsfield Gallery, London.
SOLO
2019 - A Collective Public (Part 1) - Fabrica Braço de Prata, Lisbon, Portugal.
2015 - Beyond The veil, Masters show, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee.
2012 - Open up I'm Burning Through The Blossom Lounge, Toronto.
2012 - The Pittenweem Arts Festival, Pittenweem, Fife.
2011 - The Pittenweem Arts Festival, Pittenweem, Fife.
GROUP
2022 - New QEST Scholars Luncheon, Guildhall, London.
2022 - Open Studio Exhibition - LX Factory, Studio 1.14B, First Floor, Lisbon, Portugal
2021 - Open Studio Exhibition - LX Factory, Studio 1.14B, First Floor, Lisbon, Portugal
2020 - Sustainable Connection – Con Gusto/Unobvious Lab, Lisbon, Portugal
2020 - MFA Alumni Show, Flora Kirsch Beck Art Gallery: Alma College, Michigan, USA.
2019 - Ateliers Abertas Edição 3, Rua Conceição da Gloria, Lisbon, Portugal.
2017 - 12 x 12 - Galeria da Graça, Lisbon, Portugal.
2017 - Ateliers Abertas, Rua Conceicao da Gloria, Lisbon, Portugal.
2017 - Imagining the Future, A School and Community Arts Development Initiative - with Chittaranjan Nayak, as part of c-Hub and Tafaria foundation, at Tafaria Castle, Nyeri, Kenya.
2016 - Group show of community projects as part of c-Hub and Tafaria foundation at Tafaria Castle, Nyeri, Kenya.
2016 - Supporting Mind Scotland, The Image Collective Gallery, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2016 - Zorba the Buddha International Residence Exhibition, Delhi, India.
2016 - Gallery 48 Opening Night, Gallery 48, Westport, Dundee, Scotland.
2016 - Open Studio Exhibition, Jiwar International Residence for Artists and Researchers in Urban creativity, Barcelona, Spain.
2016 - The W. Gordon Smith Painting Competition Exhibition, The Dovecot Gallery, Edinburgh.
2016 - RSA Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland.
2015 - Winter Postcard Show, WALL PROJECTS, 13 Bents Road, Montrose, Scotland.
2015 - ARTSYLAND 9 NEW GRADUATES EXHIBITION II, WALL PROJECTS, 13 Bents Road Montrose, Scotland.
2015 - New Scottish Artists. The Fleming Collection Gallery, London.
2015 - New Contemporaries 'Selected Artist', RSA (Royal Scottish Academy) Edinburgh.
2015 - RSW (Royal Society Watercolours), RSA (Royal Scottish Academy) Edinburgh.
2014 - Solstice Gallery De Goede Toronto, ON.
2014 - Winter Tales, Duncan of Jordanstone College of art and Design, Dundee.
2014- Best of Degree show, The Sixfoot Gallery, Glasgow.
2014 - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Degree Show, Dundee.
2013 - Open Up I'm Burning Through, Top Floor Studio, Toronto.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2021 - Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) scholarship.
2021 - QEST and Cockpit Arts London Professional Development Programme for new QEST scholars.
2021 - The Eaton Fund grant for artists
2017 - Klein Artist Works scholarship.
2016 - Nominee Scottish Variety Award for Best new Scottish artist.
2016 - The W Gordon Smith Award runner up prize.
2015 - The Fife Decorative and fine Arts Society Award.
2015 - The Duncan of Jordanstone Postgraduate award for best academic performance.
2015 - Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship to Florence.
2015 - Friends of the RSA award
2014 - The Alexander Graham Monro Travel Award best work for an artist under 30.
2015 - The William Sangster Phillip's academic scholarship and bursary
2014 - The James Guthrie Memorial Art Prize
2014 - The Hermione Hammond runner up drawing prize.
2010 - The Benni Esposito Drawing Award
ART GALLERIES
- New Blood Art, London UK (2014-present)
- Galeria AFK, Lisbon, Portugal (2017-present)
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
- The Royal Scottish Academy John Kinross Scholarship Collection
- Ninewells Hospital Medical Library Private & Public Collection
- University of Dundee Fine Art Collections, Tower Foyer & Lamb Galleries
ARTIST RESIDENCIES & SOCIAL PROJECTS
- CO-FOUNDER OF SOCIAL ARTS INITIATIVE - COLOUR THE COMMUNITY, KENYA | AUG 2017 - NOV 2017
- TAFARIA CASTLE, KENYA | SEP 2016 - NOV 2016
- ZORBA THE BUDDHA, NEW DELHI| APRIL 2016 - MAY 2016
- JIWAR, BARCELONA, SPAIN | FEB 2016 - MAR 2016
- JOHN KINROSS SCHOLARSHIP | FLORENCE, ITALY | SEP 2015 - NOV 2015
PRESS
2021 - QEST Scholar 2021
2021 - Samantha Wilson’s illuminating portfolio highlights a dark corner of a global humanitarian crisis
2020 - Samantha Wilson, b.1990, University of Dundee Fine Art Collections, Tower Foyer & Lamb Galleries.
2015 - GQ Magazine, Why Dundee is becoming Britain's coolest little city, by Robert Johnston.
2015 - New Scottish Artists on Show at the Fleming Collection, London, by Ian Caldwell.
2015 - ART Scottish Art News: RSA: New Contemporaries 2015, Griselda Murray Brown.
2015 - University News, Art and Architecture graduates to exhibit at 2015 new Contemporaries by Grant Hill.
2015 - Art reviews: RSW by William Crosbie
2015 - STV Dundee, Award-winning Dundee artists pick up nearly £5k in prizes, by Joe Birchenall.
2015 - Dundee University, Travel Beckons for Award Winning Artists, by Grant Hill.
2015 - Dundee Wave 102 Radio, Interview on RSW Alexander Graham Monro Travel Award.
2014 - Central Station, The Creative Social Network, Life After Art School with Samantha Wilson.
2014 - Central Station, The Creative Social Network, DJCAD Degree Show Review.
2013 - Holly In The City blog, Upcoming Art Show, Open Up I'm Burning Through.