Geelong Library Corp -All staff day workshop
I was pleased to be invited to host a mixed media workshop this week in Geelong for 180ish staff! What a wonderful group, and they all made some great pieces! Thanks for having me.
The Invasion - Presented by Platform Arts and Samantha Thompson
The Invasion
Presented by Platform Arts and Craft Contemporary Program 2022
Platform Arts
60 Little Malop Street, Geelong VIC 3220
Wadawurrung Country
Opening event
Saturday 29 October, 4 - 6pm
Creeping out of nooks, hanging from the ceiling, and generally up to no good, these band of misfit sea creatures are made to interact and play with internal rooms. The invasion is an immersive universe filled with stuffed textile works, some of which resemble hybrid of creatures we find in our oceans. Utilising the massive amount of textile waste found in second hand shops, these creatures are hand sown, stuffed and adorned with pom poms, sequences, and clay spikes. On the surface of the creatures feature human faces, often embroidered, and painted, almost as if reflecting out own faces, like a mirror.
Like a fish out of water, these strangely alluring personalities create an opportunity to witness what we normally don't see under the ocean. There is an environmental impact created by humans that directly affects the creatures in the oceans, and the textile fast fashion industry is a major player. The upcycled and textile nature of these works are a not too subtle play on this dynamic.
Live music soundtrack by WELDER, playing live for the opening.
More information here The Invasion | Craft Victoria PLATFORMARTS
Other Art Fair - Meat Market - Melbourne
Thanks all for the convos, kind comments and for those new collectors. Was a great experience being able to sit with my work and hear everyone’s thoughts!
George Paton Gallery
All welcome to this group show I’m delighted to be apart of. More info HERE
Other Art Fair Melbourne
MELBOURNE
26-29 May 2022
Happy to exhibit my new work at this fair with some wonderful artists
Experience seekers, this one’s for you. We’re reframing art and how you experience it. Think curious encounters and game-changing artists.
Tickets now live. More info HERE
Masters Of Contemporary Art - VAC 2022
2022 is proving to be a busy year as I take on a year year full time study load at Victorian College of the Arts/Melbourne University. I’m excited to be reinvesting in my creative art beast, after 22 years of working in this industry I’m at the place now that I can pause and invest. I’m very grateful for the ongoing support of family and friends, and art collectors that continue to support my work. I’m hoping to use this opportunity to really gain some great Sculptural skills, including work in public art spaces. And of course learn and get inspired by fellow professionals.
VCA Graduate Exhibition
Graduate Certificate of Visual Art final install titled “The great escape”
Artists Statement
My practice currently focuses on creating sculptural characters that serve as prototypes for larger temporary public art pieces. I consider my practice as a creative multiverse, within which hysterical notions of human superiority are reversed and re-assembled anew to create a world of mini beasts. In this world, one might encounter a collection of hybrid insect-crustacean creatures, heavily encrusted with hard spikes, yet constructed from soft textiles. I juxtapose the familiar and endearing with menacing details of disproportionate scale; my creatures’ ambiguous bodies often feature female human faces. As such, my work implies an uncanny familiarity, while also pointing towards more sinister questions of human ownership over all in our environment. I create my own fictional species to reimagine alternative evolutionary processes and to challenge how we might perceive our importance in it.
2 Heads Series - Solo exhibition at Napier Creative Arts -New Zealand
On till the end of Jan 2021! Please visit this wonderful art space in Napier, New Zealand.
New Year, New Exhibitions, workshops and art!
2020 you where a challenge. As many artists did, I poured out my frustrations and stress into my art. Part therapy part pure creative drive. The combo produced some interesting work and a couple new series of works, explored the natural surrounds of my home and studio here in country Victoria, Being locked down forced me to stay close and notice the beauty that surrounds me. I developed a passion for hiking and through the many hours outside, it slowly started to influence my work. 2020 also saw my return to Melbourne Uni deferred to 2021, and I so look forward to getting back to class this year.
I have 2 new solo exhibitions for 2020, one held in Napier New Zealand in Jan, and one at Brunswick gallery in Melbourne in June. Both are featuring my textile work that I have been exploring for the last 12 months.
The studio is open for workshops, professional development sessions and for collectors to view the work. Please just get in touch to make a time to visit.
Studio Update May 2020
Studio Update!
The studio in Lethbridge is open for up to 2 people at a time, appointment only, and following the governments social distance guideline. Extra cleaning and handwashing has also been put in place to make sure we are all safe during this time.
The online shop is open, and worldwide shipping available.
Professional development and workshops are offered online and for up to 2 people in the studio.
Please continue to support the arts industry if you are able to, its going to be a rough time for many artists and small arts companies in the future.
LUNA Exhibition at Walker Street Gallery
LUNA Exhibition and Record Release
All welcome - Official opening event on Saturday 13 June from 2-4pm.
‘Vast space, ever distant and remote,
Solar systems so big we can’t contemplate our attachment,
Heavy, unchanging, it wraps around us,
Get lost, Luna grips us all’
Along with the presented visual works, there will be a Record release and Limited Edition Covers that has been made to accompany the images by Matt Thompson
More info HERE
HYPNOSIS Exhibition in Napier New Zealand
All welcome to the Hypnosis exhibition held at Napier Arts centre, New Zealand.
All welcome to opening night -Friday 27 March from 5-7pm
Hypnosis is a human condition involving focus of attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. In this new mixed media series Samantha draws us in and asks quiet questions. Hypnosis is a reflection and celebration of the individual. Inherently female and suggestive, the series uses many forms of media, speciality paper, printmaking, painting and ink/pastel, to bring us closer. The many layer and influences are represented of our memories and shared humanness, they weave and bang their way together to form the final piece, a kaleidoscope of energies and experiences.
Samantha will present mixed media original works at this exhibition and will also be presenting a couple workshops over the weekend at Creative Arts Napier.
Samantha will also be hosting a workshop, aimed at upcycling your old works of art into new pieces! Contact CAN directly to pay and book
The exhibition will run for 4 weeks
More info HERE
Graduate Certificate in Visual Art
I’m excited to be going to Melbourne Uni to work towards my Masters of Contemporary Art, this year I’ll be studying Graduate Certificate in Visual Art, and hopefully start the Masters in 2021.
BIG things happen in August!
Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 12 PM – 3 PM
Printmaking Studio Sessions in Samantha Thompson’s Studio
81 Goggin Rd, Lethbridge, Victoria 3332
$50 (Limited to 6 artists)
The new incarnation of the Linoclub! These monthly Printmaking Studio Sessions are now held at Samantha’s studio, with more access to professional materials and equipment for exploring all sorts of printmaking techniques.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 7 PM – 9 PM
Hypnosis Exhibition Opening
Tacit Galleries 123 Gipps St, Collingwood, Victoria, 3066
Free!
Come and join Samantha for the launch of her latest collection of works, ‘Hypnosis’. Exhibition closes 15th September, 2019.
Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 12 PM – 3 PM
Professional Development Workshop for Artists
$100 (Small group)
A popular 3 hour session held in Samantha’s country studio, great for emerging artists and designers
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Immerse 2019, Opening
Knox City Council, Melbourne
Samantha’s work will be on display for the whole of the event, but she is also running a special workshop on the 21st and 22nd of September. Exhibition closes 29th of September, 2019.
Ballarat Winter Activated Art Trail - Selected artist
Pop along to the Ballarat winter arts festival to see some great animated public art pieces including mine in Police Lane. Only up for 2 months!
For more info please visit HERE
Selected artist for 2019 IMMERSE Arts Program
Selected artist to exhibit and produce work in Know in the month of September, check out this website for more details about this event.
