ARTIST STATEMENT
Art and nature have been a major part of my life since I was a child. It all started with clay and its ability to be manipulated into objects of art. After graduating from The University of Michigan with honors and a B.A. in Asian Studies and Studio Art, I apprenticed for five years with a ceramicist in her studio. From there I maintained my own successful business as a sculptor— producing large totems, figures, busts, 3-dimensional wall platters and ceramic murals. I first started oil painting my clay pieces while doing an artist-in-residency at the Archie Bray Foundation. I showed my work in galleries, museums, and art exhibitions throughout North America and was published in numerous international and national books and magazines. I had to stop working in clay after a divorce so that I could support my children—ages two and five at the time.
Today I am an abstract environmental painter focusing on climate change in all its forms and consequences. It is my passion to spread awareness of this cause. From picking up trash on trails and beaches to raising Black Swallow Tail Butterflies, I contribute to helping nature in my own way. Art is one of many methods to expand awareness—via exhibitions, written words, social media and broadcast exposure. I belong to many climate change groups. I am a member of the National Caucus of Women Artists – Eco-Art and MI Chapters, The Detroit Society of Women Painters, The Scarab Club and The Lawrence Street Gallery where I display my work.
My process includes a variety of mediums including non-toxic water-soluble oil paint which can be cleaned with water. I try to keep my studio practice as safe as possible for the environment. I paint on canvas, wood, archival paper and boards, using cold wax medium, oil pastels, oil pastel pencils, ink, charcoal, acrylic mediums and mark-making tools. Other series have included mixed media with vintage found objects and printmaking with an eye on immigration, women’s rights and social injustice.
I have exhibited in numerous exhibitions such as the 33rd Fine Arts Competition at the Alexandria Museum of Art, The Detroit Artist Market, HOT Dam!, Swords into Ploughshares Peace Center and Gallery, ReGrowth, The Anton Arts Center, Michigan Fine Arts Exhibition and a solo exhibition at the Ferndale Public Library (FPL). The FPL purchased a piece for their permanent collection. The Henry Ford Health System also purchased two paintings for their new wing of the Macomb hospital. I am also in numerous private collections and am open to commissions.
Upcoming Events
Solo Exhibition in The Gallery at Brewery Park in the Crain’s Communication Building
July 1st – 28th, 2024
Opening: Saturday, July 13 from 2 – 4 pm
Artist in Residency, Casa Tagumerche, La Gomera, Canary Islands
September 2024
Selected Exhibitions
Sofia Art Gallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
“Small Works – Big Talent”, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, California
“Alexandria Museum of Art, 36th September Competition”, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana
“Shapes and Colors”, International Virtual Exhibition and Book Publication”, Gallerium Art, The Book of Arts, and Biafarin Artists Management
“Hot Dam!” Detroit Artist Market Annual, Juried by Mario Moore, Detroit, Michigan
“38th Annual Our Town Art Show”, Group Exhibition, Community House Art Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan
“Abstract Art”, Gallery 4%, Virtual Group Exhibition, Garland Award Winner, NYC, NY
“ReGrowth”, Swords into Plowshares, Group Exhibition, Detroit, Michigan,
“Landscapes”, Gallery 4%, Virtual Group Exhibition, 3 Awards of Distinction, Painting, New York City, New York
“Small Works”, Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, Michigan
“New Works”, Solo Exhibition, Ferndale Public Library, Ferndale, Michigan
“Emergence”, Group Exhibition, KickstART Gallery, Farmington, Michigan
“36th Annual Our Town Art Show”, Group Exhibition, Community House Art Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan
“Contemporary American Ceramics”, Group Exhibition, Loveland Museum of Art, Loveland, Colorado
“Tiles and Wall Platters”, Solo exhibition, Owen Patrick Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“New Work”, Solo Exhibition, del mano Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Awards
Three Awards of Distinction in Paintings, “Landscapes”, Gallery 4%, NYC, NY
Garland Award Winner in Painting “Abstract Art”, Gallery 4% NYC, NY
Certificate of Excellence in Three Dimensional Art, Washtenaw Council for the Arts, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Certificate of Excellence, The International Competition, N.Y.C., New York
Certificate of Excellence, Metro Art, U.S.A. Competition, Los Angeles, California
Archie Bray Foundation, Artist-in-Residence, Helena, Montana
Artpark, Artist-in-Residence Grant, Lewiston, New York
Permanent Collections
Henry Ford Hospital, Macomb, MI
Ferndale Public Library, Ferndale, MI
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Corporation Headquarters, Detroit, MI
William Grenewald, Former director of the American Craft Council, New York City, New York
Strauss and Levine, Los Angeles, California
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
Hutzel Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
St. Johns Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
Numerous Private Collections
Publications and Media
Steffanie Samuels: A Spartan Voice for Climate Change, The Artworld Post, November 15, 2023
Steff Samuels: Capturing the Urgency of Climate Change in Art, Project High Art, November 14, 2023
The Great Lakes Odyssey Radio Hour, A NPR program featuring artists, scientists and musicians, whose work focuses on Climate Change and the Great Lakes, Nov. 4, WCMU
The Alexandria Museum of Art Exhibition Catalogue, a Full-color catalogue featuring AMoA’s Executive Director and Juror, Mattie Codling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, statements. Each artist has a full page featuring their artwork.
Shapes and Colors, Hard Cover, Group Exhibition Catalogue, Each participant has a full page featuring their painting.
The Jewish News, Magazine Article featuring my work in the “36th Annual Our Town Art Show” Written by Suzanne Chessler, pgs 1, 41-42
Ceramics for the Landscape and Garden, book published in Great Britain by A & C Black, Written by Karin Hessenberg. Photos taken in my studio by Karin Hessenberg, pg. 70
The Best of Pottery, Volume 2, Quarry Books, Gloucester, Massachusetts, Curated by Chrisotpher Gustin and Angela Fina, pg. 117
The Best of Pottery, Quarry Books, Gloucester, Massachusetts, Curated Jonathon Fairbanks and Angela Fina, Book Cover and pg. 11
Education
University of Michigan, B.A. with Honors, Asian Studies/Studio Art