artist statement
My current body of work investigates psychological and physical conflict. The fascination to
experience conflict firsthand or by proxy seems inherently human. I am
particularly interested in representing women as aggressors. Through scale and
context, my drawings aim to challenge perceptions of the female nude.
In contrast to the emphatic imagery are organic and repetitive marks that cover the paper
entirely, creating what looks like a mechanical process. My obsession with
repetition compels me to work in a set routine but my diligence requires that
it is directed. Thus I find making representational work a method of control.
Using the imagery as a framework provides parameters and also serves as a gauge
to help me determine when to stop. I meticulously build up the surface,
layering the marks while reconstructing the forms through my interpretation. By
focusing my perception, this process of drawing becomes an act of obsessive
discernment
artist bio
Samantha Wall is a Korean-American artist working in Portland, OR. Her figurative drawings of women reflect an ongoing investigation into representations of feminine beauty and sensuality. She began studying the figure after being influenced by the Great Masters and contemporary artists such as Jenny Saville and Chuck Close. Her large-scale work is inspired by observations in her environment, conversations with other women and examinations of the impact of media on feminine identity.
Zoom in close to one of my pieces [ Flash Plug-in Required ]