Samantha Thomas’ artistic practice is unique and idiosyncratic. Restraining herself to a palette of raw canvas, thread and acrylic paint, Thomas’ work explores the play between common studio materials and abstraction. Jagged extrusions, folded thresholds and frenetically woven strands of thread transform her canvases into paintings that are, at once, physical, architectural and sculptural. While each piece defies the flatness of the canvas, her work still speaks to the language and legacy of painting and drawing.

About
Images


Samantha Thomas
A Return to Happiness, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 44 inches / 111.8 cm
A Return to Happiness, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 44 inches / 111.8 cm

Samantha Thomas
Regeneration, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 37.5 inches / 95.3 cm
Regeneration, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 37.5 inches / 95.3 cm

Alternate view

Samantha Thomas
Blossom, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 32 inches / 81.3 cm
Blossom, 2020
Acrylic on canvas on panel
Diameter 32 inches / 81.3 cm

Samantha Thomas
Fleur (Gardenia), 2020
Acrylic on canvas
Diameter 40 inches / 101.6 cm
Fleur (Gardenia), 2020
Acrylic on canvas
Diameter 40 inches / 101.6 cm

Samantha Thomas
Untitled (Fleur), 2019
Acrylic on canvas,
Diameter 22 inches / 55.9 cm
Untitled (Fleur), 2019
Acrylic on canvas,
Diameter 22 inches / 55.9 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture Study, 2019
Acrylic on canvas, stacked
20 x 16 inches / 50.8 x 40.6 cm
Texture Study, 2019
Acrylic on canvas, stacked
20 x 16 inches / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

Detail

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems, 2019
Acrylic and thread on canvas
59.8 x 84 inches / 151.8 x 213.4 cm
Complex Systems, 2019
Acrylic and thread on canvas
59.8 x 84 inches / 151.8 x 213.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Pink Intruder, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Diameter 79 inches / 175.3 cm
Pink Intruder, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Diameter 79 inches / 175.3 cm

Samantha Thomas
California Poppy, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
37 x 37 inches / 94 x 94 cm
California Poppy, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
37 x 37 inches / 94 x 94 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic, rope on canvas
22 x 20 x 5 inches / 55.9 x 50.8 x 12.7 cm
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic, rope on canvas
22 x 20 x 5 inches / 55.9 x 50.8 x 12.7 cm

Samantha Thomas
Continental Drift #5, 2018
Acrylic, oil, thread, and linen on canvas,
42 x 36 inches / 106.7 x 91.4 cm
Continental Drift #5, 2018
Acrylic, oil, thread, and linen on canvas,
42 x 36 inches / 106.7 x 91.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture Study, 2017
Thread and acrylic on canvas
20 x 13 inches / 50.8 x 30.5 cm
Texture Study, 2017
Thread and acrylic on canvas
20 x 13 inches / 50.8 x 30.5 cm

Samantha Thomas
Blood Orange, 2017
Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 inches / 50.8 x 40.6 cm
Blood Orange, 2017
Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 inches / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

Samantha Thomas
Continental Drift #4 , 2017
Acrylic, oil, thread, and linen on canvas, framed
50 x 40 inches / 127 x 101.6 cm
Continental Drift #4 , 2017
Acrylic, oil, thread, and linen on canvas, framed
50 x 40 inches / 127 x 101.6 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic on canvas 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 inches / 31.8 x 24.1 x 7.6 cm
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic on canvas 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 inches / 31.8 x 24.1 x 7.6 cm

Samantha Thomas
Continental Drift #3, 2017
Acrylic, thread on linen 12 x 9 1/2 inches / 30.5 x 24.1 cm
Continental Drift #3, 2017
Acrylic, thread on linen 12 x 9 1/2 inches / 30.5 x 24.1 cm

Samantha Thomas
Continental Drift #2 , 2017
Linen, thread, acrylic and oil on canvas 46 x 38 inches / 116.8 x 96.5 cm
Continental Drift #2 , 2017
Linen, thread, acrylic and oil on canvas 46 x 38 inches / 116.8 x 96.5 cm

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems #8, 2014-2015
Thread, acrylic, on canvas
44 x 33 inches / 111.8 x 83.8 cm
Complex Systems #8, 2014-2015
Thread, acrylic, on canvas
44 x 33 inches / 111.8 x 83.8 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic on burlap
14 x 11 inches / 35.6 x 27.9 cm
Texture Study, 2017
Acrylic on burlap
14 x 11 inches / 35.6 x 27.9 cm

Samantha Thomas
Cartography #7 , 2017
Linen, thread, and acrylic on canvas 60 x 75 inches / 152.4 x 190.5 cm
Cartography #7 , 2017
Linen, thread, and acrylic on canvas 60 x 75 inches / 152.4 x 190.5 cm

Samantha Thomas
Landscapification #17 , 2016
Acrylic, thread and charcoal on canvas over panel 48 x 34 inches / 121.9 x 86.4 cm
Landscapification #17 , 2016
Acrylic, thread and charcoal on canvas over panel 48 x 34 inches / 121.9 x 86.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Cartography #1 (NS), 2016
Acrylic, thread, burlap and canvas 10 x 8 inches / 25.4 x 20.3 cm
Cartography #1 (NS), 2016
Acrylic, thread, burlap and canvas 10 x 8 inches / 25.4 x 20.3 cm

Samantha Thomas
Untitled, 2016
Acrylic, thread and canvas
44 1/2 x 44 1/2 inches / 113 x 113 cm
Untitled, 2016
Acrylic, thread and canvas
44 1/2 x 44 1/2 inches / 113 x 113 cm

Samantha Thomas
LANDSCAPIFICATION #16, 2015
Acrylic, thread and charcoal on canvas over panel 44 x 34 inches / 111.8 x 86.4 cm
LANDSCAPIFICATION #16, 2015
Acrylic, thread and charcoal on canvas over panel 44 x 34 inches / 111.8 x 86.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Somewhere in Between, 2015
Acrylic and thread on canvas over panel 53 x 49 x 5 1/2 inches / 134.6 x 124.5 x 14 cm
Somewhere in Between, 2015
Acrylic and thread on canvas over panel 53 x 49 x 5 1/2 inches / 134.6 x 124.5 x 14 cm

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016

Samantha Thomas
Spatial Relation, 2015 – 2016
Acrylic on Linen 72 x 48 inches / 182.9 x 121.9 cm
Spatial Relation, 2015 – 2016
Acrylic on Linen 72 x 48 inches / 182.9 x 121.9 cm

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems #4, 2016
Acrylic and thread on canvas, framed 60 x 90 inches / 152.4 x 228.6 cm
Complex Systems #4, 2016
Acrylic and thread on canvas, framed 60 x 90 inches / 152.4 x 228.6 cm

Samantha Thomas
Cartography #6, 2016
Thread, acrylic and linen on canvas 60 x 84 inches / 152.4 x 213.4 cm
Cartography #6, 2016
Thread, acrylic and linen on canvas 60 x 84 inches / 152.4 x 213.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems #5, 2014-2015
Acrylic and thread on canvas 55 x 46 inches / 139.7 x 116.8 cm
Complex Systems #5, 2014-2015
Acrylic and thread on canvas 55 x 46 inches / 139.7 x 116.8 cm

Samantha Thomas
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016
Complex Systems of Communication, Installation view, 2016

Samantha Thomas
Untitled (Vortex) #1
Acrylic, oil and thread on canvas 48 x 36 x 5 inches / 121.9 x 116.8 x 12.7 cm
Untitled (Vortex) #1
Acrylic, oil and thread on canvas 48 x 36 x 5 inches / 121.9 x 116.8 x 12.7 cm

Samantha Thomas
LANDSCAPIFICATION #6, 2012-2013
Thread on canvas 72 1/2 x 60 x 4 1/2 inches / 184.2 x 152.4 x 11.4 cm
LANDSCAPIFICATION #6, 2012-2013
Thread on canvas 72 1/2 x 60 x 4 1/2 inches / 184.2 x 152.4 x 11.4 cm

Samantha Thomas
Texture/Parameter, Installation view at LAXART, 2013
Texture/Parameter, Installation view at LAXART, 2013

Samantha Thomas
Installation view at RH Contemporary Art, 2013
Installation view at RH Contemporary Art, 2013
Exhibitions

Good Company: The Remix
2021/02/06 — 2021/03/06

Good Company: Pt. 1
2020/12/05 — 2021/03/06

Staycation
2020/04/07 — 2020/05/30

Anat Ebgi | Minnesota Street Project
2019/01/05 — 2019/01/26

Samantha Thomas: Complex Systems of Communication
2016/03/19 — 2016/04/23
CV
Samantha Thomas
- 1980
- Born in McAllen, Texas.
- Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.
Education
- 2004
- BFA Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
- 2016
- Complex Systems of Communication, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- ARCOmadrid, with Anat Ebgi, Madrid, SP
- 2014
- LANDSCAPIFICATION, RH Contemporary, New York, NY
- 2013
- Texture/Parameter, LAXART, Los Angeles, CA
- 2007
- Preview, Gehry Partners, Los Angeles, CA
- Multipliticies, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York, NY
- New Gallery, Thom Andriola, Houston, TX
- 2005
- Samantha Thomas, Patricia Faure Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2021
- Good Company: The Remix, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2020
- Staycation, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2019
- Frieze New York, with Anat Ebgi, NY
- The Conversation, Anat Ebgi at Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, CA
- 2018
- Pussy, King of Pirates, Maccarone, Los Angeles, CA
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2017
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- Untitled, with Anat Ebgi, San Francisco, CA
- 2016
- Art Los Angeles Contemporary, with Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2015
- Salon NO.13, Marine Projects, Venice, CA
- 2013
- Landscape, Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Miami, FL
- 2012
- MOCA Fresh, MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
- Ghost Town, L&M Arts, Venice, CA
- 2011
- THE DELTA, curated by Alexys Schwartz, Alexys Schwartz Projects, Los Angeles, CA
- Speculative Materialism, D-block projects, Long Beach, CA
- 2010
- Venice Artists, Here Is Elsewhere Gallery, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
- 2009
- Uli and Lucrecia's lustige gruppenausstellung MIT party, Five Thirty Three, Los Angeles, CA
- 2008
- 5 Year Anniversary Show, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York, NY
- Ebb and Flow, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York, NY
- 2006
- LA Remix, Galerie Dominique Fiat, Paris, FR
- LA Now, Galerie Dominique Fiat, Paris, FR
- (Keep Feeling) Fascination, curated by Julie Joyce, The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, LA, CA
- 2005
- Pink, Patricia Faure Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Residencies
- 2018
- After & Again, Oaxaca, Mexico
Selected Press
- 2016
- Sharon Mizota, “Folded, pleated, burned, torn: Artist Samantha Thomas’ tactile webs of intrigue,” Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2016.
- Lisa Adams, “Art Los Angeles Contemporary 2016: Through the Eyes of a Painter,” Huffington Post, January 29, 2016. (Link)
- 2015
- Daniel Cabrera, “Who is Samantha Thomas?,” Bustle, September 14, 2014.
- 2014
- Elizabeth Weinberg, “California Dreamin’”, Baku Magazine, Autumn 2014.
- “Inaugural exhibitions: 9 Nov 2013 — 25 Jan 2014 at RH Contemporary Art in New York, United States,” Wall Street International, November 2014.
- 2013
- Catherine Damman, “Samantha Thomas at LAXART,” Art in America, November 22, 2013.
- Raka Sen, “5 Emerging Artists From RH Contemporary Art,” Complex, November 9, 2013. (Link)
- Fan Zhong, “Restoration Hardware Gets Contemporary,” W Magazine, November 7, 2013. (Link)
- “Q&A with Artist Samantha Thomas,” New York Spaces, Autumn 2013.
- Sam Cochran, “RH Contemporary Art Gallery Opens in New York,” Architectural Digest, October 31, 2013.
- Dawn Chan, “Restoration Hardware’s Next Move? A Quarterly Journal for Art Lovers,” T Magazine, October 30, 2013.
- Alice Gregory, “A Home Furnishings Visionary Takes On High Culture,” T Magazine, October 3, 2013.
- Nikki Grattan, “Samantha Thomas,” In the Make, September 2013.
- Johnie Gall, “Venice Beach Surfer Pushes Boundaries of Traditional Canvas Art,” Foam Magazine, September 19, 2013.
- 2011
- Reggie Casagrande, “State of Mind: Samantha Thomas, LipstickTracez, August 19, 2011.