Bio
New Zealand artist Sam Mathers was born and raised in the small west coast town of Raglan. Much of his work is heavily influenced by his hometown, famous for its world class surf breaks, rugged natural beauty and boutique town centre.
Having lived abroad and traveled extensively, Sam draws inspiration from the people and places around him. His unique, playful and abstract pieces first drew the attention of ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi’s Art Director Antonio Navas, who attended Sam’s first solo exhibition in Raglan in 2011. What eventuated was Sam’s first commissioned piece, a mural for the agency’s foyer and the rest, as they say, is history, as Sam embarked on a full time career as an artist
Now, 12 years on, Sam exhibits in various group art shows across the world and his art is sought after by art collectors both here in New Zealand and across the globe. He continues to work on personal and commercial commission pieces for both domestic and international audiences.
Artist Statement
“I like to think of my work as a visual diary. Whether re-telling a story about my travels both here in New Zealand or around the world, my art documents the people, places, cultures and interests that have influenced my life.
I like to extract the instantly recognisable and adapt it to create a talking point, whether that be via scale, multimedia components or colour, I am continually exploring ways to create dimension with the objective that my work speaks to people in different ways and provides an opportunity for the audience to create their own story around each piece.
I am passionate about the process, the mechanics of how things work and continue to explore new methods within my work. Using graphic sensibility, depth, language and cultural idiosyncrasies allows me to create multi-layers of meaning and the space for each viewer to identify and connect with something individual to them.
While it may appear organic, my process is deliberate and the scratches, paint drips and weather-beaten footprints are consciously curated to add depth to my work. Not one to shy away from colour, my choices are reflective of how I feel at the time.
Education
2005 BMA, Media Arts, Hamilton, NZ
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019 Duncan & Ebbett Volvo showroom, Hamilton, NZ
2015 That’s Gold, Soul Gallery, Hamilton NZ
2015 A Few Stray Bottle Caps, The Third Eye – Tuatara Temple Of Taste, Wellington NZ
2014 All They Know How To Say Is Moooooo, Soul Gallery, Hamilton NZ
2014 Sam Mathers, David Lloyd Gallery, Hamilton NZ
2013 Rural & Sea Views, Soul Gallery, Hamilton NZ
2012 Been & Gone, Mobile Art Gallery, Auckland NZ
2011 Where Have You Been? Blacksand, Raglan NZ
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 The Other Art Fair, Sydney, Australia
2016 Colours Art Launch, Sapphire Room, Ponsonby, Auckland NZ
2016 Kings College, Auckland NZ
2016 VEFA, Vauxhall School, Auckland NZ
2015 MAC Creative Directions Art Fair, Mairangi Arts Centre, Auckland NZ
2015 ROPS Art Auction, Royal Oak, Auckland NZ
2015 Kohia Exhibition, Kohia Terrace School Exhibition, Auckland NZ
2014 Kohia Exhibition, Kohia Terrace School Exhibition, Auckland NZ
2014 Baradene Art Show, Baradene Auditorium, Auckland NZ
2014 ROPS Art Auction, Royal Oak, Auckland NZ
2014 VEFA, Vauxhall School, Auckland NZ
2013 Art Fusions, Carmel College, Auckland NZ
2013 ROPS Art Auction, Royal Oak, Auckland NZ
2013 NZ ART Show, ASB Bank Arena, Wellington NZ
2013 NZ ART Show Launch, Museum Art Hotel, Wellington NZ
2013 Baradene Art show, Baradene Auditorium, Auckland NZ
2012 200 x 200mm, Parnell Gallery, Auckland NZ
2012 Southwell Creative Ties, Southwell School, Hamilton NZ
2012 ROPS Art Auction, Royal Oak, Auckland NZ
2011 Chace Charity Art Auction, Mt Maunganui NZ
2011 Nautical, Draw Inc Gallery, Hamilton, NZ
2006 Southwell Invitational Exhibition, Hamilton, NZ
2005 Southwell Invitational Exhibition, Hamilton, NZ
2004 Southwell Invitational Exhibition, Hamilton, NZ
Selected Commissions
2016 MAGO MUNDI Benetton World Art, Kiwi Consciousness collection, Treviso, Italy
2012 Mural, New School of Architecture and Design (NSAD), San Diego CA
2011 Mural, Sattchi & Sattchi, Auckland NZ
2011 Mural, Media Design School, Auckland NZ
Awards
2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Finalist
2002 Johnson Scholarship for Art, Hamilton, NZ