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artist statement
I have an obsession with raw materials.
I also have an obsession with culture.
And with both of these things, I am intrigued with how merging two different pieces of them together can create something beautiful and more intense than it was in its original state.
For years I couldn’t figure out what it was that I was painting. I didn’t understand why I leaned more towards subjects that brought ordinary people and unrealistic colors together, or why I had a wrenching urge to construct my pieces instead of just painting them. Why the canvas wasn’t enough?
I’m not sure how I broke this urge, but I figured out that I am obsessed with raw culture. Culture that is created or man-made, one that combines two existing cultures into one unique trend. My curiosity often likes to study these trends and my imagination takes them a step further or makes them up entirely. Kind of like a series of what if’s or hypothetical ideas that develop in my mind. My work focuses on the stories that may come about and the stories that are taking place when cultures collide. It is about the ordinary and the street. More importantly it is about exposing things that people normally don’t highlight and using materials that are natural and pure.
In my new and more recent work you will see often the use of raw materials such as brick, wood, steel, glass, etc. joined with paint, a focus on cultural practices such as branding, and regenerating symbols. These pieces will also embrace the current culture of America and the age of the Millennial’s and its influence on art.
We are in an interesting stage with technology and the characters it has made of people fascinates me. My work focuses on the culture that has been created today and how some things might look or what stands out from the multiple merging of things.
I am an artist in the definition of creating, not an artist by medium used. In my work, you will see year by year I have exposed my many interests and influences, and I have gone through periods of transitioning that have led me to this point of raw culture. To date I have 5 periods that have expanded over the past 10 years, which identify my artwork: Amateur Soul, Sexual Identity, Urban City, Confusion in the Latino Culture, Raw Culture.
I am sam kirk. I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. My work stems from my experiences with living in different neighborhoods and things I’ve learned on the streets. The intention of my work is to tell a story about ordinary people, unheard moments, the impact different cultures have on American life, and the impact the American culture has on people. My work can be found in the forms of apparel, interior design and architecture, paintings, sculpture, and in some cases events and shows.
sam.kirk
- shares a gentle voice from the streets to provoke eye-opening cultural stories
upcoming shows:
November 20th 2009
Elephant Room Gallery
704 S. Wabash
Chicago, IL
i am exhibit
6pm - 10pm
December 2009
Venus Art Show
1100 W. Cermak
to book sam for shows or to purchase artwork contact:
angela anderson
angela_guerreraproject.com
or sam.kirk_yahoo.com
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CONTACT ME
sk_iamsamkirk.com
773.814.4882
sam kirk
ART & DESIGN
