Samantha Oliver
Samantha Oliver
Samantha Oliver began her transient lifestyle immediately after graduating with her BFA from Winthrop University in 2013. She then completed a Post Baccalaureate program at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. From there Samantha trekked to Highlands, NC for a year long residency at The Bascom: Center for Visual Arts. After getting engaged in North Carolina, she promptly left Highlands for a 6 month residency at Brockway Center for Arts and Technology in Pennsylvania. She is now residing in Tryon, North Carolina with her husband, many plants, and a small herd of pets. Samantha is featured in galleries in Colorado, Nebraska, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania. Samantha’s work is inspired by her memories of childhood wallpaper, family comforts, and enjoying the company of friends old and new.
I am motivated by floral patterns I would find in my childhood homes. My family lived a very transient life; we would move to a new town every couple of years. With my environment constantly changing, it was easy for me to see the little consistencies, like the floral wallpaper borders that ran along the ceilings around every new house we moved into. Whether it be wallpaper, curtains, or dinning room linen napkins that my mother insisted we use every meal, the repetitive floral design on these items have made its way into the earliest memories of my life.
I believe that the social and communal aspects of functional pottery are significant. The shape, design, and function of a pot inform its surroundings; it is able to turn a social gathering into a ceremonial setting. My intention is to create pots that beg to be held and used in a setting that brings people together in conversation and fellowship. I want those who experience my work to touch, hold, explore, and most importantly, find a personal use for the work.