Sam Kelser
About
Sam Kelser is a self-taught contemporary figurative artist working primarily in acrylic. Based in her home studio within her Gothic 18th-century church home, Sam creates expressive paintings exploring people, relationships and the stories that exist beneath the surface of everyday moments. She began painting in 2022 following the death of her dog, Hugo, initially turning to painting as something positive and healing to focus on. Her practice has since developed into a distinctive body of contemporary figurative work, using acrylics and medium to build texture on canvas, alongside soft and oil pastels for layering. Sam's work has been selected for the Jackson's Art Prize extended longlist in both 2025 and 2026, with “Those Sisters” selected in 2025 and “At Home with Pink 1984”in 2026. In 2026, Sam held her first solo exhibition at Sixteen Gallery in Montpellier, Cheltenham.
"My work is influenced by expressionism and a fascination with human nature and psychology. Faces, colour, composition and theatrical settings are used to create scenes that suggest a narrative without providing all the answers. Rather than telling an obvious story, I prefer to leave clues and ambiguity, allowing the viewer to form their own interpretation of the characters and what might be happening beneath the surface."
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