Preston Sampson is a colorist whose use of mediums include, canvas, pulp painting, encaustics and printmaking. His work has found expression with audiences domestically as well as abroad, in public, private, corporate and institutional collections and exhibitions.
Color is the primary focus of my work and it provides the one for delivering the image. This is evident in the intuitive flow as its interactions with paper of canvas surface. These surfaces in the form of raw canvas of paper void of pigment, are deliberate trails to remind the eye that what it is seeing is a creation from scratch, and that the trail exists from concept to creation.
The figure in perpetual motion is m metaphor for the unfolding surprise, hope and ascension of the human spirit. Recurring images continue to be spirits or ancestors who protect and give guidance. My aim is to move the viewer into the mood and moment with the use of color and gesture; to feel certain changes, like fleeting moments of memory or dreams. Flecks of color and lines are used to give life it streams of consciousness, experiences, and hopes. The sonorous use of color is an effective vehicle to narrate the universal experiences of relationships.
Sampson considers himself, particularly; honored to have been mentored by acclaimed University of Maryland visionaries Dr. David Driskell, Tad Lapinski and Sam Gilliam, among others.
The David C Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, Yale University, Morehouse College, University of Colorado, Dallas Museum of African American Art, Georgia State Museum, University of Alabama, Dreamworks, Bank of America, Absolut Vodka, Wells Fargo and the National Education Association are just a few of his public collectors.
Education: BA Studio Arts, University of Maryland at College Park, 1984
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2013 New Directions, Sol Studio, New York City
2012 Featherstone Art Center, Pebble Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2011 Common Threads, International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC
2007 Mood and Moment, International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC
2006 Power and Purpose, International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC
2005 Hot Fun in the Summertime, ZZaj Gallery, New York City
2004 Fascinating Rhythms International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC
2002 Recent Works International Visions Gallery, Washington, DC
2001 Main Street Communications, Washington, DC
1999 International Visions gallery, Washington, DC
Monotypes & Pulp Paintings, Greenbelt Federal Courthouse, Greenbelt
1998 Recent Works, Camille Love Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1997 Explorations & Celebrations, University of Maryland, University College
Arts Program Gallery, College Park, MD
1996 Reminiscing, Camille Love Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1995 Recent Works Bagit Gallery, Chicago, IL
1994 The Governor ’s Club of the Palm Beaches. West Palm Beach, FL
Ascension Gallery, Washington, DC
1993 Remembrance: Negro League Baseball. Sumner School Museum &
Archives. Washington, DC
Hughley Gallery & Objects, Atlanta, GA
1992 Pelloon Gallery. Washington, DC
Spiral Gallery. New
1985 Arena Players Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 Resist, Zenith Gallery and BusBoys and Poets Washington DC
2016 Movers and Shakers, Zenith Gallery, 1111 Penn. Ave, NW WDC 20004
2016 Marche d’Acqua Fabriano Watercolor, Fabriano Italy
2015 Black but not all Black. September Gray Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2014 Tradition Redefined: Brenda & Larry Thompson Collection. Traveling
Exhibition. Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL, Georgia
State Museum, Athens, GA, David C Driskell Center, College Park, MD
Forty Four, An Inaugural Exhibition. International Visions Gallery,
Washington, DC
2013 Convergence: Jazz, Films, and the Visual Arts. David Driskell Center,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD ( Traveling Exhibit)
2012 Collaboration: Preston Sampson & Tim Davis. Levine School of Music.
Washington, DC
Royal Blues Line: DC to NY, Cross Section: Kenkeleba Gallery. New
York, NY
2011 The Art of Giving Back. Visual Arts Gallery, School of Visual Arts. New
York , NY
2014 Tradition Redefined: Brenda & Larry Thompson Collection. Traveling
Exhibition. Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL, Georgia
State Museum, Athens, GA, David C Driskell Center, College Park, MD
Forty Four, An Inaugural Exhibition. International Visions Gallery,
Washington, DC
2008 Highlights: From the David C Driskell Center Permanent Collection,
David C Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Reflective Interludes, Ratner Museum, Bethesda, MD
2007 Dialogue with Color: Kevin Cole & Preston Sampson. Whitespace Gallery, Winston Salem, NC
Continuum: Innovative Prints from Pyramid Atlantic, 1997-2007. Pyramid
Atlantic. Silver Spring, MD
Ten. Ten-Year Anniversary Exhibition. International Visions Gallery. Washington, DC
Beneath the Surface. The Bolivian Hall of the Embassy of the Republic of
Venezuela. Washington, DC
2006 Color Sense and Sequence: Preston Sampson, Susan Goldman and Kevin
Cole. Legacy Fine Art Group. Bethesda, MD
Eye Candy. Gallery Guichard. Chicago, IL
2005 Collaboration as a Medium: 25 Years of Pyramid Atlantic. Traveling
Exhibit. Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC. Maryland Art Place,
Baltimore, MD
2004 Fusion One
2003 Sheroes & Wonder Women: Celebrating Women who Make A
Difference. Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery. Durham, NC
On Common Ground: Two and Three Dimensional Art – Paintings,
Photography, and Sculpture. Millennium Arts. Washington, DC
2002 Successions: Prints by African American Artist from the Jean & Robert Steele Collection. University of Maryland Art Gallery. College Park, MD
Rhythm & Blues: Preston Sampson & Kevin Cole. Sandler Hudson
Gallery. Atlanta, GA
2001 African American Museum. Dallas, TX
Crosscurrents 2001: The Works of Pyramid Atlantic. University of
Maryland Art Gallery. College Park, MD
Dell Pryor Gallery. Detroit, MI
2000 Autumnal Equinox. Iandor Fine Arts. Newark, NJ
Colors. Black Fine Art Exhibition, Navy Peir. Chicago, IL
1999 African American Museum. Dallas, TX
Baltimore Museum of Art. Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair. Baltimore, MD
Thelma Harris Gallery. White Linen Nights. Oakland, CA
1998 Critical Discoveries. Artist Museum. Washington, DC
1997 Absolut Expressions. Miami, FL
Aphrodisiac. Ascension Gallery. Washington, DC
Have A Cigar Box. Camille Love Gallery. Atlanta, GA
1996 Texaco Presents Olympic Sports Art. King Plow Arts Center. Atlanta, GA
1993 Portraits, Spirits and Black Sacred Music: Schroeder Cherry-Preston
Sampson. James E. Lewis Museum. Morgan State University. Baltimore, MD
1992 Lockhart & Pettus Gallery: Verna Hart & Preston Sampson. New York ,NY Pelloon Gallery, Washington, DC
Spiral Gallery, Brooklyn, NY Pelloon Gallery, Washington, DC
1990 Pelloon Gallery, Washington, DC
1981 Aspirations. Preston Sampson & Duane Graves. Nymburu Cultural Center. University of Maryland. College Park, MD
Selected Public & Private Collections
Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs
Bank of America
Yale University
Washington DC Convention Center
DC Commission of the Arts & Humanities
African American Museum of Art, Dallas TX
National Education Association, Washington DC
Absolut Vodka
Dreamworks
David Driskel Center, University of Maryland
University of Maryland Athletic Department
University of Colorado Library of Books and Prints, Boulder CO
Montreaux Atlanta Music Festival
Modern Woodmen Park, Quad Cities Riverbandits baseball club, IA
Palm Beach County Arts Council
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Crowwell & Moring LLP
Larry & Brenda Thompson
Al & Michelle Christian
Ronald & Patricia Walters
Darell Walker
Peggy Cooper Cafritz
Samuel L. Jackson
Maya Angelou
Robert & Jean Steele
Selected Review & Publications
Dybis, Karen. A trip to Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum delights with new
exhibits, fresh ideas, new hope, The Detroit Hub, January 25, 2013
Jenkins, Mark, A Days Work. Washington Post, July 15, 2011
Patterson, Tom. New Space, New Faces: Artist from Washington and Atlanta
showing unusual works at gallery in downtown loft. Winston Salem Journal.
March 18, 2007
Mowry. Lisa. Where The Art Is. Better Homes and Gardens – Bedroom & Bath.
Summer 2002.
Childs, Adrian. Method and Mission. Exhibition Catalog. Successions: Prints by
African American Artists from the Jean and Robert Steele Collection. 2002.
Playbill Magazine. Featured cover artist. The Kravis Center for the Performing
Arts, West Palm Beach, FL. October 2001
Brown-Hardman, Della. Art Exhibit at Craven Gallery Features Wide Variety, African
Themes. Vineyard Gazette, September 19, 2000.
Savage, Wayne. A Stroke of Genius: Painter shares hue-mongous talents with county schools and arts center. Prince George’s County Gazette. May 20, 1999.
Protzman, Ferdinand. 4 Artist at Greenbelt Courthouse. Washington Post. March 18, 1999.
Protzman, Ferdinand. Critical Discoveries. Washington Post. August 6, 1998.
Montreux Music Festical Atlanta 1998. Featured cover artist.
The International Review of African American Art. A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting African American Art, 1998.
Butters, Patrick. 2 Artist find Absolut Enjoyment using famous ad as subject.
Washington Times, April 19, 1998 Schwan, Gary. Preston Sampson: An Artist on the Rise.
Palm Beach Post, October 5, 1997
Salerno, Heather. Art and the Bottle. Washington Business, Washington Post.
September 1, 1997
Black Enterprise Magazine. Absolut Expressions, Absolut Sampson, September 1997
Oda, Ken. Explorations and Celebrations. Ken Oda’s Newsletter (KOAN). March 1997.
Protzman, Ferdinand. The Strength of Sampson. Washington Post. February 22, 1997.
McMillan, Terri. Mama. Featured Cover Artist. Book of the Month Club. 1997
Thomas, LaVonn. Artist Celebrates Culture in Display. Prince George’s Journal. February 6, 1997.
McGee, Celia. Full House. Town & Country Magazine. November 1995
Murphy, Anthony. Portfolio. American Visions Magazine. August-September 1995.
Jenkins, Brian. Negro baseball Hall of Fame. America’s Black Forum. March 1995.
Playbill Magazine. Featured cover Artist. The Kravis Center for the Performing
Arts. West Palm Beach, FL. October 1994.
Cryer, Michael. Major League Baseball, Past and Present, An Artist View. WJTV (ABC) On Time. May 1994.
Smithsonian Institute Associate Magazine. Featured cover artist. Pittsburgh
Crawford. February 1994.
Dorsey, John. Two-artist peer inside black experience: Portraits, Spirits and Black
Sacred Music. Baltimore Sun. November 15, 1993.
Cafritz, Peggy Cooper. Best Bet. Remembrance: Negro Baseball Leagues. Sumner School
Museum & Archives. WETA (PBS) Around Town. September 1993.
Cooper, J.J. Childhood Tales Inspire Negro Leagues Exhibit. Atlanta Journal
Constitution, August 21, 1993
Stinnett, Donna. An Eye for Art. The Gleaner, Henderson, KY. February 16,1992.
Jefferson, Stebbins. Celebrating Black Life on Canvas. Palm Beach Post. November 24, 1991
Selected Awards & Grants
2002 Prince William County Public Schools, Artist in Residency Artworks, Designs in Glass Bus Shelter Project, Arlington County Cultural Affairs
2001 Graham Park Middle School. Artist in Residence
Maryland Capital Park & Planning Arts in Education Residency
2000 Prince George’s Arts Council, Arts in Education Residency.
1999 Prince George’s Arts Council, Arts in Education Residency. Collaboration: Journey of the Drum
Rockledge Elementary School, Bowie MD. Mural @ 22’ x 8’ Prince George’s Arts Council Educator of the Year
Maryland Capital Park & Planning Arts in Education Residency
1998 Prince George’s Arts Council Grant. Uniting Mediums: Painting – Printmaking
1997 Prince George’s Arts Council, Arts in Education Residency.
2000 Prince George’s Arts Council, Arts in Education Residency.
