Artist based in Miami, FL
Samantha Vassor, portrait of the artist. Photo by Kenyan Alexander
Tell us about yourself, what's your background?
I am a first-generation, Haitian-Filipina American originally raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, but now currently live in Miami. I’ve been privileged enough to be surrounded by art and creativity from an early age. I auditioned and attended an art middle and high school before pursuing it more seriously in college. Art was a space of comfort for me to reflect and discover myself.
Wish Them Greener Grasses, 2024, 3D Animation, 1080x1350
https://samanthavassor.com/WISH-THEM-GREENER-GRASSES
I had a fine art background throughout college before I started pursuing design. I have a background in interdisciplinary sculpture and gravitated toward 3D digital fabrication. I loved 3D modeling and sculpting in digital space. I quickly moved on to 3D animation as an art form and found its use in design. I loved collaborating with other designers and finding other ways to be creative outside the fine art world.
Safe Spaces, 2024, Digital Art
I’ve more recently pursued a new, personal body of work. My images survey a range of emotional possibilities while exploring the rich plurality of my identity as a Haitian-Filipina-American woman. Depicting vulnerability, surreal environments, humor, empowerment, and the feminine form, my work critically engages issues of self-preservation, metaphysical realities, generational inheritances, interpersonal relationships, their psychological impacts, and ways of finding healing.
"Through humor and conflicting emotions, I enact the stages of healing, examining the dichotomies of growth and self-destruction that come with processing emotions. Surreal environments become a space of safety as well as escapism and alienation. Humor and vices can make us laugh but can also be coping mechanisms for repelling difficult feelings."
Black Leisure, 2023, Digital Art
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
I am working on a body of work, ‘Living with the Stains’, reflecting on my healing journey through EMDR therapy, the vulnerability that comes with sharing that publicly, as well as the human relatability that comes with processing difficult emotions. With this body of work, I’ve started asking questions like: Where does the mind go as it starts to heal and protect itself? How does the mental start to affect the physical body? How do we self-regulate and find love and peace?
Safe Spaces Detail, 2024, 3D Illustration
In this most recent work, I depict the feminine form, environments, animals, food, and objects in a condition of healing and becoming. ‘Stains on my shirt’ becomes a metaphor, for finding peace and overcoming difficult life memories. Traumas can still haunt us, and like stains on our shirts, they may fade but are never fully forgotten and unseen.
Safe Spaces Detail, 2024, 3D Illustration
Through humor and conflicting emotions, I enact the stages of healing, examining the dichotomies of growth and self-destruction that come with processing emotions. Surreal environments become a space of safety as well as escapism and alienation. Humor and vices can make us laugh but can also be coping mechanisms for repelling difficult feelings. My work series examines my experiences of conflicting self-image and self-compassion while also questioning individual responsibility in my own grievances.
Stoned Fine Jewelry Hand Model, 2023, Digital Art
It was especially important for me to address these topics of mental health and healing, because of how taboo these conversations can still be in black, brown, and immigrant communities. Grief is such an understood, familiar feeling but mental healing and vulnerability are not. Support and understanding from loved ones is so crucial, and without having these conversations and open-mindedness about mental health in our communities, awareness and education on these topics become subsequently unimportant.
Still Life, 2022, Digital Art
Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?
With a background in sculpture, I found 3D digital art to be an art medium like any other. I still sculpt when I use 3D programs and think about space, lighting, and texture: I just work behind a 2D screen. It is important for me to maintain my hand throughout the development of my work and to remember that technological tools are useful for conveying feelings, sharing personal narratives, and engaging in conversations on the human condition. This inspiration, of course, begins every day.
I am finding a lot of joy and community in exploring right now. I am finding different artistic mediums outside of digital art and working with creatives in my communities who are knowledgeable of numerous crafts.
Left: 3D progress. Right: Wish Them Greener Grasses, 2024, 3D Animation, 1080x1350
I am learning to reconnect with my body by working out and regulating my nervous system. Within my work, I often think of how the mind often reacts and affects the physical body. Your heart rate can increase and you go through fight or flight moments. I’m learning how to take control and find confidence in my physical form. My latest challenge is trying out Muay Thai and pole classes.
Learning new things and being humbled by the process of acquiring new skills is something I find inspiring. It shows me there is always something new to learn and every day is another opportunity to grow and find joy with others.
2D Sketch and Mood board for 'Wish Them Greener Grasses'
Describe your practice and process. Where do ideas start for you? In the studio or being in the world?
I create work reflecting on my own world experiences first and try to find the human relatability within those moments that viewers may connect with. Story-telling through an image allows me to consider moments of peace, conflict, or strength and how art is a vehicle for examining the dichotomies of growth and self-destruction that come with moving through life.
My work explores themes of femininity and the narratives of women and femme. Beautification and materiality become acts of self-compassion, rituals for confidence, and cultural items for self-identity. Fashion, nail art, jewelry design, etc. are important details to my work and my style because they reflect moments of individuality to me.
Left: 3D model render. Right: 3D model detail
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
Sometimes my process begins with a rough sketch on paper, but most of the time I start sketching ideas in 3D programs, as my mind works better 3-dimensionally. In 3D programs, I can continue to play with composition, try different camera angles, and adjust lighting and colors all in one moment.
Sketching and writing help me keep track of my project ideas, and I just look back at sketches as a reference on what to explore next. I make reference to other fine artists, art directors, fashion photographers, designers, etc. when I mood board. Mood boards are important for me to get a sense of direction for where I want a piece to go. I use Pinterest all the time to keep images and references together.
2D sketch for Wish Them Greener Grasses
Many artists live by their routines, do you have your own rituals inside and outside of the studio? What does that look like for you?
I like to start off my mornings with a workout or stretch. It makes me feel relaxed a ready to start the rest of my day feeling productive. By 11 am I would have already eaten breakfast and be ready to start my work day. I like to listen to music while I create. I don’t usually have a playlist and will play music that fits my mood that day, or listen to new music from my favorite artists. I also switch to watching something on TV to have some background noise. My main focus is always the work and I miss so much of episodes that I end up rewatching them. Sometimes I’ll be sitting for extended periods of time, so I always try and remind myself to stand, stretch, water my plants, etc. I try and be done for the day around 7-8 pm, but sometimes if I’m in a good flow, I’ll stay working a few more hours.
Left: 3D model render. Right: 3D model detail for Shifting Winds
Who are your biggest influences?
This is often changing, but right now I am really inspired by nail artists/manicurists like Melissa Samuel (@finesseyourclaws) or Ella Vivii (@ellavivii); tooth gem artists like Anya Chai (@anyamaneechai); photographers like Jack Bridgland, Tyler Mitchell, and Suzanne Saroff; and artists like Serwah Attafuah, Sasha Gordon, Martin Johnson Heade.
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
I often take inspiration from Caribbean spirituality & folklore, history, psychology, and pop culture when I create. I am greatly inspired by Afro-surrealism and try to incorporate those ideologies into all my work.
Stoned Fine Jewelry Hand Model, 2023, Digital Art
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Change is the only constant in life. I’ve always found comfort in change because it means you have ample opportunity to transform and reinvent yourself. Life is infinitely moving and new cycles are beginning; death, rebirth; transformation. Difficult moments pass, and we learn from them. It is in our best interest to reinforce ourselves and our adaptability to this constant.
What is the best advice you would give to other artists?
Consistency in an art practice is important, so never stop creating; just know when to change things up or try something new. Keep learning and never lose sight of new discoveries. Be open, because you never know what can inspire your art practice next. Do everything you love with the utmost joy and humility and see everything as a new challenge to grow your practice and your mind.
Portrait of the artist
Stay up to date with Samantha Vassor
Website samanthavassor.com
Instagram @svassor