BIOGRAPHY

Referred to as one of the pioneers of large-scale conceptual photography the photographic work of Sam Samore is linked to post-conceptual art of the 1970’s. In his well-known filmic work of the 1990’s Allegories of Beauty (Incomplete), and the 1980’s Situations, the artist made iconic pictures about beauty, antagonistic rivalry, voyeurism, non-linear narration and the isolated character marooned in his/her own existential drama. Authorship, the perception of the individual in the public domain and a focus on physical composure are aspects of these enigma@c images. Early in his career Samore studied psychology, leading him to create a new body of work in 1973: The Suicidist, which set the tone for his later depictions of the an@-hero/heroine. An interest in literary devices, myths and fables, the film storyboard and exposition became established themes in his oeuvre. Text based installations, sound pieces and videos have further enhanced his investigations. In place of the exalted, roman@c American heroines of Cindy Sherman’s film stills from the same period, Samore inhabits in part the existential angst and anarchist comedy of La Nouvelle Vague. Predating the pre and post-millennial culture of medication or “pill society” they are in line with a literary tradition connected to author/artist as creative martyr.

Sam Samore lives in New York. His most well-known works include The Suicidist, 1973; Situations, 1980s; Allegories of Beauty (Incomplete), 1990s; Scenarios, 2007 – among others. Samore started filmmaking in 1970. Recent films have been screened at the Rockbund Museum in Shanghai, the film program of Art Basel, the Anthology Film Archives, New York, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art as well as at the Locarno Film Festival. Samore has written four published books of short stories, and he is currently working on a novel. He has had solo exhibitions at MoMA PS1 in New York, Casino Luxembourg, De Appel, Amsterdam, and the Kunsthalle Zurich.

SAM SAMORE, 2016