Sherman Sam
Overview
Got my mojo working, 2020
The titles of Sherman Sam’s paintings are inspired by fragments of song lyrics and music album titles. But his paintings are not driven by what he hears or what he sees, but rather how he moves. Working on small wooden panels, each artwork originates from an initial gesture. Each brushstroke informs the next, gradually giving rise to small series of paintings. Over time, these series develop affinities with one another, with shared patterns and marks, interacting in a process that the artist describes as "cross-pollination". In playful contrast to his decidedly non-representational style the musical titles of his works play with the viewer’s inherent desire to interpret meaning behind the pieces.
Works
Volare, 2004
Biography
Got my mojo working, 2020
Sherman Sam (b. 1966) is an artist and critic based in London and Singapore.
He has exhibited his paintings and drawings internationally, including solo shows at The Suburban, Chicago, IL, USA; the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Lugar do Desenho, Porto, Portugal; the Centro de Arte, San Joao de Madeira, Portugal; Some Walls, Oakland, CA, USA; Equator Art Projects, Singapore; and most recently at Annka Kultys Gallery, London, UK.
His work has also been included in numerous group shows in Europe, USA and Southeast Asia, including "Sight Mapping", Uddevalla, Sweden; Glasgow, UK; Bilbao, Spain; "Plan D" curated by Sherman Sam, Palacete Viscondes de Balsemao, Porto, Portugal; Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo, Ireland (2005); "Rhyme not Reason", the Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA; "Connected", Feature Inc, New York, NY, USA; "The Theory and Practice of Small Paintings", Equator Art Projects, Singapore.
As a writer, he was contributing editor at www.kultureflash.com, and has written for The Brooklyn Rail and various British art magazines. Currently he contributes regularly to Artforum, artforum.com, ocula.com and artcritical.com. From 2006-8, he was the Inspire Curatorial Fellow at the Hayward Gallery in London, and was the selector for the Pro Arts 2010 Juried Annual in Oakland, California.
He has curated exhibitions including "Plan D", Palacete Viscondes de Balsemao, Porto, Portugal; traveled to Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo, Ireland (2005); "A Poem For Raoul And Agnes", Ancient & Modern, London, UK (2014).
He has exhibited his paintings and drawings internationally, including solo shows at The Suburban, Chicago, IL, USA; the Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Lugar do Desenho, Porto, Portugal; the Centro de Arte, San Joao de Madeira, Portugal; Some Walls, Oakland, CA, USA; Equator Art Projects, Singapore; and most recently at Annka Kultys Gallery, London, UK.
His work has also been included in numerous group shows in Europe, USA and Southeast Asia, including "Sight Mapping", Uddevalla, Sweden; Glasgow, UK; Bilbao, Spain; "Plan D" curated by Sherman Sam, Palacete Viscondes de Balsemao, Porto, Portugal; Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo, Ireland (2005); "Rhyme not Reason", the Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA; "Connected", Feature Inc, New York, NY, USA; "The Theory and Practice of Small Paintings", Equator Art Projects, Singapore.
As a writer, he was contributing editor at www.kultureflash.com, and has written for The Brooklyn Rail and various British art magazines. Currently he contributes regularly to Artforum, artforum.com, ocula.com and artcritical.com. From 2006-8, he was the Inspire Curatorial Fellow at the Hayward Gallery in London, and was the selector for the Pro Arts 2010 Juried Annual in Oakland, California.
He has curated exhibitions including "Plan D", Palacete Viscondes de Balsemao, Porto, Portugal; traveled to Rubicon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland; Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo, Ireland (2005); "A Poem For Raoul And Agnes", Ancient & Modern, London, UK (2014).
Exhibitions
News
Blog
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In Conversation - Sherman Sam with Barry Schwabsky
Brooklyn Rail February 5, 2024MAMOTH were delighted to invite Barry Schwabsky to speak with one of our artists, Sherman Sam about his latest duo exhibition 'Duet' with Nancy Shaver....Read more -
Sherman Sam's Patience
Barry Schwabsky February 5, 2024MAMOTH was honored to have Barry Schwabsky to write about Sherman Sam and his latest duo exhibition 'Duet' with Nancy Shaver (18th of January to...Read more -
In Conversation with Sherman Mern Tat Sam
February 1, 2021On a surprisingly sunny afternoon in November 2020, curator Robert Spragg met with artist Sherman Mern Tat Sam at his home and studio to discuss...Read more -
Clive Hodgson in conversation with Sherman Sam
April 23, 2021This conversation took place in two parts. First in Hodgson’s show, then in the garden of the gallery. ● Part one: in the gallery Clive...Read more
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