Samson Neary

Samson is a non-binary ceramicist and printmaker based out of Brooklyn. Their work utilizes such techniques as linocut stamps and underglaze painting in their sculptures. As an individual with anxiety and A.D.D., this detail orientated and repetitive method becomes a way of keeping present and mindful, and directly juxtaposes the whimsical and anxious energy conveyed in their work. Androgynous blob-like figures show a spectrum of queerness mixed with catholic imagery which builds a sense of reverence for the trans experience. 

You’re a new addition to the crayon box: Which color are you and why? 
Sunflower yellow.  I read somewhere once that Vincent Van Gogh ate yellow paint to “get happiness inside him” and while I’m about 90% sure that’s just a rumor I feel very attached to that sentiment. How nice it would be for my guts to be yellow. 

How did you become interested in art?  
As a kid I was pretty crafty. I used to horde junk in my room, little plastic bits from stuff like old McDonalds toys and candy packages. I would spend hours trying to fit them together to “invent” new stuff, and so thinks that’s where I started off.

What did your path to art look like? 
While I did go to art school, I majored in performance art. Specifically I was doing stand up comedy. The very last class I had was a general credit so I decided to take ceramics simply because I had never done it before. And I realized I enjoyed working with clay about a hundred times more than anything else that I was currently doing. 

What does a typical studio day look like for you? 
As of yet I don’t actually have my own studio, so it involves a whole lot of carrying clay around the city. I’m lugging about a half pound of clay with a couple of underglazes in my backpack most of the time and whenever I have free time I’m making work. Either at home, friend’s studios or downtime at my job. Then after that it’s time to lug it to one of the pottery places I work at to get it fired! I’ve definitely broken a piece or two on the 1 train.

Name three major themes present in your artwork: 
trans joy, existential dread and finding solace in the little things

How has your practice changed over time? 
I’ve found that my ideas flow much more freely now, then when I first started. I was very concerned early on about how things were going to be received, or I would get really caught up in perfecting some perceived mistake to the point where I rarely made a finished piece. It’s still a battle I’m fighting; to stop comparing myself to other artists and wondering if my things look like “real art.” But I find that when I push those things aside I’m able to create a better workflow. 

Why did you decide to move to NYC? How has living in the city influenced your practice? 
My partner and I moved here about 2 years ago for work. I feel like since coming to New York I’ve learned a lot from the makers community that I’ve found here. Everyone I’ve met is not only incredibly kind but ready to share resources and knowledge to help you along the way. It’s also helped me in figuring out how to make my art more inclusive and accessible to others. 

What is your favorite part of the artistic process? 
Glazing. I use underglaze so everything has to be painted three times over, even small detail lines. Since the painting of it is so rigorous and repetitive it becomes very meditative. Anytime I’m feeling feeling anxious or dissociative it’s a great way to bring myself out of it.  

What is your least favorite part of the artistic process? 
Honestly filling out applications for shows and galleries. It’s something I’ve really had to struggle with especially since I’ve been off my medication for A.D.D. I can make work all day long but sitting down to fill out paperwork so I have somewhere to put said work takes the better part of a week for me. 

What is your favorite tool? 
Lino cut stamps for sure. Once a stamp is completed I can use it to stamp literally anything it will fit on, so the possibilities are endless. 

“To create the type of things that you would want to see. So much of the success I’ve found has been from creating working that I felt I needed and wanted to see and other people who feel the same way relating to it.”

— Samson on "What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?"

Where do you find sources of inspiration? 
Small things that bring me joy, things I’m anxious about, gender euphoria, catholic imagery, my hyper fixations, trans/queer people living their lives loudly 

Name three artists you’d like to be compared to: 
Julian Miholics, Kieth Haring and Red Nose Studio

Can you tell us more about the characters you create in your artwork? What inspires you to create these characters? Do you have any backstories? 
Some of my characters come from me trying to turn feelings I have into something more physical to communicate it. Things like my anxiety, dysphoria or Catholic guilt that I feel. And then sometimes I just have the hankering to draw little berry boys.

If you could become one of your characters/works of art which one would you become and why? 
I would become the little trans angel from my queer angel print. To live life as a gender less celestial potato person would be so lovely

How did ceramics become your main medium? 
Right before I left Boston for NYC I had come to the realization that I’d rather be making ceramics than doing standup, and it just worked out that the first job I got when coming to the city was at a paint your own pottery studio. Since I only had the ceramics knowledge of the one class I took, I used the resources from my job to learn what I needed to continue making my art. I’ve worked at several other clay studios around the city since then and I’ve been able to pick up new clay skills from each one to move me forward. 

Which superpower would you have and why? 
I’ve wanted to be able to teleport ever since I saw Nightcrawler in X Men as a kid. I also feel like I’d have a lot less broken sculptures in my life if I could do that.

From your perspective what is the role of an artist in society? 
I think art is all around us in society, the clothes we wear, the ads we see, the entertainment we consume. But I find there’s too much pressure on artists to be creating things both for profit and at a breakneck pace. Is your art palatable? Does it have reason? Is it gallery worthy? Is it relevant? People are very quick to tell someone that they’re not a “real artist” but I think that all of those things are inconsequential. If you make art then you are an artist and you need no other reason then to enjoy it.

What is your favorite accomplishment so far? 
The fact that I’ve had other people send me pictures of work they’ve made inspired by mine is the biggest thing for me. I spent a really really long time producing work that I was unhappy with and didn’t want to show, let alone put out into the world. So that fact that it is out there now and that it’s inspired other people is unreal to me. It’s the wildest feeling and something that I’m incredibly grateful for.  

What is your ultimate professional goal? 
Ultimately I would love to run my own store front and clay studio one day.