Artist Biography

Gyan Samara (born 1972) is an American artist. He was born in France and raised in New England and Europe. He received his BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1995. In 1995-96 he attended his first graduate school at the Rhode Island School of Design for Art Education. In 2000 he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; in 2017, he obtained his Master of Education from Endicott College.

As a fauvist-realist, Mr. Samara's work reflects how he sees color and movement in life. His subject matter varies from portraits to floral arrangements to "en plein air" landscapes and murals. However, he is most passionate about painting portraits of the gay community, wanting a socially engaged dialogue to discuss the similarities between all of us.

Mr. Samara's passions are exposed in his artwork and expressed through his vivid use of color and energetic lines. Through his artwork, he captures the subtle variances of colors and communicates them via gestures and line born from natural tremors in his hands. Mr. Samara embraces these variances taking advantage of them, thus, creating energetic, rich, and vivid lines of color and movement seen in all his works of art.

- Gyan Samara, MFA, MEd

Exhibition History

EDUCATION

2017: Masters of International Education, Endicott College, Beverly, MA.

2000: Master of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

1995: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA.

1996: Rhode Island School of Design, Masters of Art Education Program (no degree)

SOLO EXHIBITS

01/2021 - 05/2021: New Beginnings, Urban Paws, Chicago IL

02/2018 - 03/2018: A Year of Painting in North Georgia, 2Dog Cafe, Gainesville GA

01/2017 - 03/2018: Faces, Sweet Breads Cafe, Demorest GA

10/2017 - 01/2018: Plein Air Paintings & Portraits of North Georgia, Sweet Breads Cafe, Demorest, GA

10/2017 - 11/2017: 70th Annual Membership Exhibit, Quinlan Art Center, Gainesville GA

02/2016 Summer Plein Air Paintings of 2015, Haitian American Museum of Chicago

01/2015 to 06/2016: Chicago Neighborhoods, Treasurer's Office City Hall, Chicago, IL

07/2009: Colores y Sabores de Mexico, Galeria Plastika de Arte, Mexico City, Mexico

GROUP EXHIBITS

12/2020: Conception Arts Show, Global Virtual Exhibit on December 10th 2020

11/2019: Conception Arts Pop Up Art Exhibit at Dovetail Brewery, Chicago IL

06/07/2019: Conception Arts Pop Up Art Exhibit @ Dovetail Brewery, Chicago IL

11/2017 - 01/2018: Alumni Group Exhibit, Landmark School, Beverly, MA.
10/2017 - 11/2017: 70th Annual Membership Exhibit, Quinlan Art Center, Gainesville GA.

04/2016: Pop-Up Gallery, State of the Art, Tradition Gastropub and Bar, Chicago, IL.
04/2016: Affair of the Arts: Fine Art Fair & Artisan Gift Show, Spring Grove, IL.
02/2016 to 03/2016: Farm Country, State of the Art, Tradition Gastropub and Bar, Chicago, IL.

2013: Group Exhibit, Zou B Art Center, Chicago, IL.
2010: Westhill Gala, Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico.
2000: M.F.A. Thesis exhibition, The American Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA.

ART FAIRS

06/2016: 57th Street Art Fair, Chicago, IL.

06/2016: Wells Street Art Fair, Chicago, IL.

MURALS

06-12/2020: Bedroom Makeover Project with Mural, International Children's Center, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL.

01/2020: 360 degree mural of Chain O’Lake State Park, Dining Room at the Morris House, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL.

09/2019: City of Chicago Skyline, Saura Center, Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL.