On Thursday, September 12th, Chayse Sampy delivered an engaging artist talk in conjunction with her exhibition “I Am, Because You Are” at Sanman Studios. Sampy, a mixed media artist from Houston, TX, graduated with her MFA from Florida State University in 2023. Central to her work is the exploration of Blackness, informed by her personal narrative and familial creative legacy.
Facilitated by Amarie Gipson, editor-at-large at Burnaway magazine, the talk delved into the recurring themes in Sampy’s art and her inspirations. As a mixed media artist, Chayse emphasized the importance of Black imagery and storytelling in shaping her artistic identity.
Sampy described her artistic process, which begins with creating collages on her iPad. She layers images that resonate with her, including family photos and other images with strong associations to Blackness, to construct narratives. This digital collage serves as a foundation upon which she incorporates different types of materials to enrich her storytelling and bring her artwork to fruition, with a sculptural quality.
Influenced by prominent Black artists like Wangechi Mutu and Nathaniel Mary Quiin, Chayse draws deeply from her ancestral lineage, reflecting on how her forebears might perceive today’s socio-political climate. She credited her graduate school experience as pivotal in shaping her artistic vision.
During the Q&A session, several poignant topics emerged. Chayse spoke about how recent instances of Black tragedies—such as the killings of Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, and George Floyd—propelled her to express herself and inspire conversations through her art. She also addressed the prominence of the color blue in her pieces and its connection to the sea and the importance of Black representation in narratives.
Ultimately, Chayse Sampy expressed her hope to foster challenging conversations and promote intentional connections through her art, inviting audiences to engage with the complexities of identity and storytelling.
Chayse's exhibition "I Am, Because You Are" is on view until November 3rd at SANMAN Studios during gallery hours (Wed-Sat | 11am-7pm).
