ARTIST STATEMENT

My love of textiles began early and has continued as a life-long resource. As a naive 17 year old I went off to Paris for a weekend as a Mademoiselle Magazine college competition fashion winner. My interest in fashion continued to grow starting out as a textile designer before becoming a full time artist. The joy of pattern informed my vision from very early on.

The move from the east coast to the west coast 15 years ago had an unexpected impact on me. This new freedom included world travel and I began taking pictures with a camera. Without realizing it I was creating a context for my work yet to come.

Soon I began re-arranging and cropping my photos and finally printing on transparencies in repeat patterns I made on the computer. The shapes of my early image composites took the form of large squares and dresses. Later on image fragments were pieced together into fantastical things like Insects and Greek Vases arranged as installations on the wall. In my most recent work, I am creating wire forms and filling in the spaces with my imagery to create whole objects.

My love of the handmade made the needle the natural tool to pull the pieces together. I left the threads hanging as evidence of the process. I arrange them slightly off the wall with straight pins to permit shadows to interact with the forms. From a distance the work appears as abstract compositions. Upon closer inspection segments carry recognizable imagery.

My work is about transformation. I am interested in reconfiguring shapes and patterns in repeat on a transparent material that interacts with light to create a unique visual experience.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
Haystack School, Deer Isle, Maine
Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, N.Y.
Peter’s Valley School of Crafts, Layton, New Jersey
Anderson Ranch, Aspen Colorado

VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS

2024

Assembla Magazine – online exhibit – digital magazine – inaugural issue

Aedra Fine Art – online exhibit – Fortune Favors
I am one of 6 Best in Show Artists with a critical essay published in a catalog

2022

Exhibizione – SoloS
“Dress Up“ – January 17, 2022

2021

TOAF Global Virtual Exhibition – November 13-29, 2021
“Bones of Building”, April, 2021 Surface Design site online, curated by Mo Kelman

2020

“Hobson’s Choice”, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA (torranceartmuseum.com/hobsons-choice)
“Art of the Face Mask”, Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, Solvang, CA (artoffacemasks.com)
“Drawing Connections”, 18SAC
“Facing Darkness”, 18SAC

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2016

“Looking Back, Moving Forward”, NCJW/LA, LA, CA

2009

“Stitches”, Project_210, Pasadena, CA
“Re-Addressing the Dress”, Gallery 825, LA, CA
“Juried Group Solo Exhibition”, Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA

GROUP MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

2024

Culminating Exhibition following month long residency: Studio System at the Torrance Art Museum in Southern California

2019

“Natural Attraction”, Source Art, Pasadena Showcase House, Pasadena CA
“Art of the Dress”, curated by Georganne Alex, Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, Solvang, CA
“Dress Rehearsal”, curated by Kate Stern, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA

2017

“Taking Wing”, Neutra Gallery and Institute, LA, CA
“California Sculpture SLAM”, San Luis Obispo Art Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA

2014-2015

Traveling Exhibition: “California Dreaming” il Palazzo della Provincia, Italy (October 4-28th, 2014), Oceanside Museum of Art,
Oceanside, CA (December 6th, 2014 – March 29, 2015), Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA (April 21- July 5, 2015)

2013

“SLAM 2013”, San Luis Obispo Art Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA
“Celebrate the Journey”, A+D Architecture/Design Museum, LA, CA
“Incognito 2013”, Santa Monica Art Museum, Santa Monica, CA

2012

“Come in les femme”, A+D Architecture/Design Museum, LA,CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024

“Whiplash“, curators Rebecca Yosef and Alexandra Dillon, Propellar Gallery, 3026 Airport Ave, Santa Monica CA

2023

“Connective Threads”, by invitation of curators: Carrie Burckle and Jo Luria, Jan. 28 – April 15, 2023, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CA

2021

“Tricksters and Transformation”, September 4-October 10, Culver City CA

2020

“Drawing Connections”, 18th Street Airport Campus, Santa Monica CA
“Art to Wear”, bg Gallery, December 17, 2020- March 17, 2021, curated by Kate Stern, Santa Monica, CA
“Diverted Destruction: The Fashion Edition”, Loft at Liz’s, June 26, 2020 – September 7, 2021, Los Angeles, CA

2019

“Materiality and Method”, Pretty/Smart, Long Beach, CA
“Fantastic Voyage”, Gallery 800, NoHo, CA
“Transformations” curated by Daniela Lieja, Santa Monica, CA
“The Local Seen”, curated by Stacey Abarbanel, Laemmle Monica, Santa Monica, CA
“The Uncommon Apron”, curated by Gail M. Brown, Peter’s ValleySchoolof Crafts, Layton, New Jersey.

2018

“Bread and Salt”, curated by Anne Hromadka, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles, CA

2017

“Ink and Clay 43”, Kellogg University Art Gallery, Pomona, CA
“Converge/Convene”, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego CA
“lacda Top 40 International Exhibition”, LA, CA
“Pasadena Showcase House”, Pasadena CA

2016

“Venice Silent Auction”, Google Headquarters, Venice, CA
“Fiber Art International 2016”, Pittsburg PA.

2015

“MAS ATTACK”, Santa Monica, CA
“The Threads that Bind, A Cultural Experience”, Platt Borstein Gallery, American Jewish University, LA, CA

2014

“Photo+Craft”, Lightbox Photographic Gallery, Astoria Oregon
“17th Annual No Dead Artists”, Johnathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, GA
“Second Nature”, Pitzhanger Manor at Walpole Park, London, England

2013

“after image the photographic process(ed)” invitational, Cerritos College Gallery, Cerritos, CA
“Network-C.A.R. contemporary art ruhr”, Zaha, Museum, Seoul, Korea
“C.A.R.” Contemporary Art Ruhr”, Zollverein World Heritage Site, Essen, Germany

2012

“5 x 5” an Invitational”, Westmont Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
“AFTA4JAPAN”, Royal T Gallery, Culver City, CA
“Create/Fixate”, Premiere Events Center, LA, CA
“No Mirrors”, Rayko Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Flag Stop”, invitational art event in PODS, Torrance, CA

2011

“Mannequin Collective”, 100 Mannequins by Artists”, Santa Monica, CA
“Deconstructed Applications”, LA Municipal Gallery, LA, CA

2010

“Unwearables” Dept. of Cultural Affairs, LAX Airport, LA, CA
“LA Juried Exhibition 2010”, LA Municipal Art Gallery, LA, CA
“International Mail Art Exhibition”, Armory Art Center, Pasadena, CA
“Tower Show”, Art Foundry Gallery, Sacramento, CA
“Art of Knowledge”, Zimmer Children’s Museum, LA, CA

COMMISSIONS / INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS

2024

ART-IN-Site: Interior Art: UCSF Bayfront Medical Building, Mission Bay SF,
Chandra Cerrito / Art Advisors / Butterfly installation

2022

Kimono 6ft x 4ft x 5” for Four Seasons Lanai, Hawaii
Daniel Fine Art Advisors

2012

Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, N.J.
40 One-of-a-kind, hand-stitched, Mixed Media Dresses
Freshpaint Art Advisors

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES

2024

Residency: Studio System at the Torrance Art Museum in Southern California

2017-2019

Art in Embassies – U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Greece

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2018

“The Other Art Fair”, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA
“Photo Independent”, The Reef, DTLA, CA
“The Other Art Fair”, The Majestic, DTLA, CA

2013

“Photolucida”, portfolio review, Portland, Oregon

2012

“PhotoFest”, portfolio review, Houston, Texas

2011

“Photo Alliance”, portfolio review, San Francisco, CA

PUBLISHED / TEXTS

2025

Fiber Art Now Excellence in FiberX – in print in Fiber Art Now Magazine January 2025

2024

Aedra Fine Art – Fortune Favors
I am one of 6 Best in Show Artists with a critical essay published in a catalog
https://www.aedrafinearts.com/single-post/gwen-samuels

Here’s the link to TAMA TALKS (Torrance Art Museum Advocates) on the YouTube Channel for Studio System June 4-29, 2024
https://tinyurl.com/mt6t8mfs