BEAU SAM GREW UP IN BOULDER, COLORADO. WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE APPRENTICED WITH LOCAL PAINTER, GIGI LAMBERT. DURING THIS TIME, HE STUDIED AT THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER, AND THE COLORADO ART ACADEMY. SAM ALSO EXHIBITED IN THE CITY OF BOULDER’S OPEN STUDIO JURIED EXHIBTION, AS THE YOUNGEST ARTIST EVER ACCEPTED. HE CURRENTLY ATTENDS THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART (MICA) IN BALTIMORE, MAJORING IN PAINTING AND MINORING IN ART HISTORY.

This work explores the potential to evoke emotion through painting. By contrasting a flat background with oddly shaped objects in the foreground, an abstract tension is created to give the viewer a moving experience with the work.  Familiar objects are used in an obscure way to establish a bizarre narrative.  This narrative produces emotions of unease, perhaps in a surreal way.  The work is large-scale to reiterate the sense of being overwhelmed.  Emotions are usually sparked by events or actions, but this work attempts to reproduce human emotion through still images of fantastical objects against decorative walls. 

Alyse Ronayne on Beau Sam
October 2007