Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Lazarus.
Samantha, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was originally born in Kingston, Jamaica, but my family moved to Miami when I was a baby and I have lived here ever since. From an early age I developed a strong interest in art, but I never thought that I would pursue it as a career until high school. I was involved in many specialized fine art classes and programs which lead me to pursue my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree at Miami International University of Art and Design. While there I earned the opportunity to design and paint a mural for Jungle Island and I was also a featured artist on the DIY Network show Desperate Landscapes. After graduation, I became a fine arts high school teacher while also continuing to participate in local art shows and events. After 4 years of teaching, I decided to go back to school and pursue my Masters of Fine Arts degree at FIU. During my time here, I have been a part of many group shows over the past two years, and I have most recently received the first-place scholarship from the Women in The Visual Arts Inc.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
While my style and choice of medium has changed over the years, the one thing that has remained consistent is my love of complex and fine details. I see each mark or paint stroke like a collection of atoms, it’s only when they all properly come together that you can see the final image. In my current body of work I have been exploring various mental and psychological states. Many individuals who deal with mental disorders, such as depression or anxiety, often internalize or mask their symptoms, but just because you can’t see the pain doesn’t make it any less real. It’s these feelings that I personify in my latest portraiture series. I have created these larger than life surreal charcoal portraits that give a face to the symptoms associated with these psychological states. Measuring over four feet tall, these contorted faces symbolize how overwhelming and consuming these feelings can be for an individual.
It’s my hope that the viewer walks away with a deeper understanding of the impact that someone’s mental illness or psychological state can have on them even when they are not asking for help.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
The best advice a could give to another artist is to not be afraid of receiving critique or criticism of their art. Critique is the best way to see how your message/concept is being received by an audience. Some of my best pieces have been from a direct result of communication with other artists and peers. On that note, you also shouldn’t let the criticism from others affect your art. Just because someone says that they don’t like your artwork, that doesn’t invalidate its worth to you or to others.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
All updates on my current work and upcoming shows can be found on my Instagram @samlazz
Contact Info:
- Email: samanthalazarusart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samlazz/
Image Credit:
Samantha Lazarus
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