Dani Samson
Los Angeles, California
Contemporary mixed media painter and collage maker, repurposing scraps and found material to create abstractions of everyday life.
Message
Dani Samson is a contemporary mixed media artist based in Los Angeles, California. She creates abstract work using a wide range of materials, including paper, fabric, found objects, scrapped artwork, paint, ink, graphite, charcoal, and wax pastel. Her textured, layered approach reflects an interest in presence and perception, exploring how mental and emotional states shape the way we experience everyday life.
She studied psychology and studio art at The Ohio State University before earning an MFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in group exhibitions, including presentations at Beeler Gallery (Columbus, OH), Centre Pompidou (Paris, France), and the Helms Design Center (Los Angeles, CA). In addition to her independent studio practice, Samson has dedicated much of her career to arts education and administration, working to foster creative access and community engagement.
Statement
The moments I revisit in my creative practice are abstracted beyond immediate recognition through the addition and omission of details. With a wide range of materials, I translate my mind’s internal wanderings into expressive use of color, mark, and texture. Flattened space, repetitive marks, layered paper, and unconventional colors obscure the scene, just as intrusive thoughts disrupt our experience of the present. As viewers explore fragmented sections of color, texture, and pattern, they might catch glimpses of everyday imagery, such as a cat tucked under a blanket or a plant resting on a windowsill. Though much of the original image remains hidden in the final piece, captivating details may be found in the material itself, inviting stillness through the simple act of observation, free from the need for objective clarity.