Michael Sampson

Born in Boston, MA ,1969, and grew up in Rockport, MA. I attended Montserrat College of Art 1988-1993. I now live and work at my studio in Ithaca, NY, and have done so since 1998. I currently am a member of the Artists Alley studios, and curate The Gallery at South Hill in Ithaca, NY.

My work starts out from life drawing, from there I abstract the figure using quick uninhibited and direct lines. I am concerned with capturing what is in front of me in a simplified way that will allow intersections in line to happen during the drawing process. The shapes created by the lines develop into vibrant and interesting images that become positive shapes that I expand on and develop into paintings.

It is important for me to work from what is in front of me and to capture the moment. I like to have that experience of being in a place, and to have that atmosphere, body, and memory to work from later as I edit and transfer my drawings into paintings.

Since I use my drawings as a foundation to build on, I want the personality of the model and the place to come through in my work. Having that real moment and time to start from creates a subject that is projected onto the surface of my paintings.

In most cases I draw on a paper that ...

BFA, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, M.A. 1993.

The Gallery at South Hill, One person exhibit, Ithaca, N.Y., 2023
Corners Gallery, One person exhibit, IIthaca, N.Y., 2022
The Gallery at South Hill, One person exhibit,Ithaca, N.Y., 2021
Corning, NY Group Exhibition 171, Cedar Arts 2020
New Members Exhibition, State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY 2016
Art in the Heart Public Art, Ithaca, NY 2015
Sola Art Gallery, Ithaca, NY 2014
Montreal Art Center, Group Exhibit 2013.
CSMA Ithaca. NY 2014
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester. NY 2013
Everson Museum, Syracuse. NY 2011