BIO

         

 

Samantha Wilson (b. Dundee, Scotland) is a contemporary artist renowned for her figurative drawings and paintings, which navigate the complexities of human experiences, particularly within the realms of social, political, and cross-cultural dynamics. In recent years the pressing issue of mass displacement in Europe has taken precedent in her source material. Wilson's work unfolds a tapestry of visual tensions, leveraging ambiguity and the unresolved.

Informed by a meticulously curated photography archive, her paintings transcend mere representation, offering a unique reimagining of photographic images. Through the interplay of liquid watercolour, powder pigments, charcoal, and oil paint, bodies, faces, and identities are both revealed and concealed, deliberately straddling the realms of abstraction and narrativity.

Wilson's artistic exploration extends to the ethical dimensions of representation, prompting viewers to reflect on the responsibility of both the painter and the observer in the face of contemporary crises. Her works emphasize the imperative for compassionate connections, transcending boundaries of race, age, gender, and political status.

A graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Scotland (BA and MA Fine Art, 2010-15), and the Royal College of Art (MRes Art and Humanities, 2022-23), Wilson has garnered recognition through numerous awards, 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.

Samantha Wilson lives and works between the UK and Lisbon Portugal. 

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.

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 

ART GALLERIES 

  • New Blood Art, London UK (2014-present)
  • Galeria AFK, Lisbon, Portugal (2017-present)  

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 

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. 

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

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