- Origin: Dayton, OH
- Active: Nashville (Davidson County)
- Region: Middle
- Mediums: Fiber/Textile, Mixed Media
- Instagram | Threads | Website
Samuel Dunson
The only constant in life, is change, therefore life changes everything. This is the one concept that has remained true throughout my artistic journey. My work tends to deal with accepting, then overcoming changes occurring throughout life. From my early years as an artist to the present day, I strive to discern these changes through my paintings, sculptures, and videos. Though my aim is to tell my own personal story, the works tend to be universal in its comprehension. I enjoy straying off the beaten path of specific visual representations. My creative works take on a somewhat complex and at times whimsical nature through their narration.
Recently my works have taken upon a change in format, as I have begun utilizing more sculptural, fabric forms as a support for my paintings. This new direction has added a metaphorical, as well as physical, wrinkle in my creative process. The paintings, which were at one time, at home on the wall, are now finding themselves unshackled from confines of 2 dimensionality. They are free to be fully realized as soft sculptural paintings. These new pieces have opened the possibilities of joining both painterly and sculptural techniques in the same work and no longer require the wall as a support. As I have said previously, as life changes, I allow my artistic approach to follow that same course.
The Arts have played a major role in my life. Even as a youth in Dayton, OH, I was surrounded by creativity. My venture into Fine Art began due to a chance meeting with an Art Professor at Tennessee State University. After a brief conversation, he encouraged me to take drawing course. That chance meeting has influenced my creative life ever since. Early in my academic and artistic pursuit, I chose to concentrate on 3D works, but soon thereafter, I moved towards painting and drawing. Upon receiving a BS in Studio Art in 1992, I searched and found gallery representation in Nashville, TN, where I lived after college. For nearly six years I built a favorable exhibition record and in 1997, I made the decision to pursue an MFA. In 1998 I was accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design under a Presidential Fellowship award. After receiving my MFA in painting, I accepted an offer to teach at my undergraduate alma mater, Tennessee State University. Though I have taught over two decades, I continue to exhibit and pursue creative endeavors that challenge my intellect and skill. Presently, my work tends to deal with comprehending the many changes that occur throughout life. My paintings, sculptures and videos have become a coping mechanism which allows me to express my feelings and emotions within artistic means. Though my aim is to tell my own personal story, my work tends to be universal in its comprehension. In this, I continue to challenge myself as a creative artist
CRAFTING BLACKNESS 
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