About
ARTIST BIO
Samantha Wilson’s (b. Dundee, Scotland) 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 explore the ethics of representation, questioning the responsibility of the painter and viewer to respond to contemporary crises and furthermore illuminate the necessity for compassionate relating, regardless of race, age, gender or political status.
Wilson received a BA and MA of Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee in Scotland (2010-15) and an MRes in Art and Humanities from the Royal College of Art (2022-23). She has received many awards for her practice including a John Kinross Scholarship to Florence, an RSA New Contemporaries award, the Eaton Grant and a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) grant among others. Interested in painting's ongoing relationship to the documentary news image and its responsibility to respond to contemporary crises, she currently lives and works in Oxfordshire, England.
EDUCATION
The Royal College of Art, London, UK
MRes Art & Humanities | Sep 2022 - Sep 2023
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, UK
Masters of Fine Art with Distinction | Sep 2014 - Nov 2015
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, UK
Bachelors of Fine Art with First Class Honours | Sep 2010 - Jun 2014
OCAD University, Toronto, CA
Transatlantic Exchange in Drawing and Painting | Aug 2012 - Dec 2012
Dundee College, Dundee, UK
HNC in Contemporary Art Practices | Sep 2008 - Jun 2010
EXHIBITIONS
GROUP
2023 - London Art Biennale, Chelsea Town Hall, London.
2023 - Earthwise, Beaconsfield Contemporary, London.
2023 - Inner Workings, Cooke Latham Gallery, London.
2023 - RBA 200th Anniversary Group Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
2022 - New QEST Scholars, 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 Graduated 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.
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.
AWARDS & GRANTS
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
ARTIST RESIDENCIES & SOCIAL PROJECTS
2017 - Co-founder of Arts Initiative | Nyeri, Kenya
2016 - Tafaria Castle | Nyeri, Kenya
2016 - Zorba the Buddha | New Delhi
2016 - JIWAR Creation & Society | Barcelona, Spain
2015 - John Kinross Scholarship RSA | Florence, Italy
PRESS
2023 - Inner workings at Cooke Latham Gallery
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.
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