Place des Arts alumni (former student)
Biography
Sam Kaplan (they/them) is a queer non-binary art maker, who is an uninvited settler on the unceded homelands of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples.
Sam is a long ago art school drop-out and mess-maker, who loves the interweaves of paint, ink, embroidery, weaving, and clay. Through the magic of ADHD medication they have recently become way more connected to art-making and began showing their work. In the last years they have had pieces exhibited through the Queer Arts Festival (The James Black Gallery), Outsiders and Others Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, North Vancouver Arts, George Gallery, The Arts Council of Surrey Arts, Arts Whistler, and Langley Arts Council.
As a city-dweller Sam is drawn to painting moments of solitude in nature, which is the focus of their art.
Outside of art-making, they are a lover of growing foods, hiking, camping, and animals.
Artist Statement
In 2024, Sam took an oil painting class at Place des Arts, after not touching oils for 20 years. This painting of Rice Lake in North Vancouver, was created in class.
Instagram: @thread.and.fern