Artist based in New York,NY
Anna Samara, Portrait of the Artist
Tell us about yourself, what's your background?
I didn’t grow up in an artistic family and had very little exposure to art. Until I was seventeen, I had been focused on preparing for medical school. However, during the final year before the entrance exams, I unexpectedly found myself spending more and more time in my room, painting obsessively, and reading only extracurricular books and writers that I would choose. I did this every day, and eventually, I came to the realization that this was what I truly wanted to do for the rest of my life. I remember that time vividly, but I still don’t fully understand it. It felt like a turning point for my future, and I unconsciously surrendered to my instincts. From that moment on, I haven't stopped.
The Shiny One, 2024, oil on canvas, 50'' x 36''
“I am currently working on a series of paintings based on photos I captured using a thermal camera. The process is incredibly exciting and allows me to further explore the prey-predator dynamic . . . which adds a new layer of depth and proximity to my work."
Your Gaze (In The Depths of My Gorgon Heart), 2024. Installation (oil on canvas and wood panel), 189'' x 108''
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
I am currently working on a series of paintings based on photos I captured using a thermal camera. The process is incredibly exciting and allows me to further explore the prey-predator dynamic. I’m also expanding this theme to everyday life/ mundane subjects, which adds a new layer of depth and proximity to my work.
Your Gaze (In The Depths of My Gorgon Heart), 2024. Installation (oil on canvas and wood panel), 189'' x 108''
Ghost Notes, 2024, oil on canvas, 39'' x 27.5''
Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?
To stay inspired, it is vital for me to remain curious. I try to stay as open as possible to my surroundings, observing the world on both an individual and collective scale. From noticing colors and forms in everyday life to reading the news and keeping up with scientific breakthroughs.
Wayward, 2023, oil in canvas, 16" x 12"
Describe your practice and process. Where do ideas start for you? In the studio or being in the world?
I try to stay as open as possible to my surroundings, observing the world on both an individual and collective scale. From noticing colors and forms in everyday life to reading the news and keeping up with scientific breakthroughs. I take a lot of photos, I play with them digitally, I consider this a big part of the process. When it comes to the studio, I stay present when I am working, sometimes derailing from the initial sketch/plan.
They Never Aim For The Legs, 2024, oil on canvas,24'' x 18''
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
Yes, I do start with sketches, using pens, pencils, markers, and also digitally. I have a large, ongoing archive of images and photographs that I use as references for my drafts. Most of these images I take myself, while some are sourced online. I experiment a lot and try new approaches, often doing things differently.
When I find something that works, I tend to turn it on its head and explore it further. That said, I do notice certain patterns in my work, such as the way I place subjects on the canvas or objects on the floor. It’s something subtle, like the nuances of how someone naturally stands—feet slightly angled outward, head tilted back, and so on—that carries through in my approach.
Three Gorgon Sisters, 2024, oil on canvas, 24'' x 12''
Many artists live by their routines, what does that look like for you?
I have a tendency to spend more time painting at night but not always. Lately,I find myself listenig to a lot of greek fem rap, electronic and synthwave music while I work. I usually go for something that matches my energy at the time.
Who are your biggest influences?
My influences are wide-ranging. Medieval art and ancient Greek sculptures have shaped my approach to form and narrative.
New media worldbuilding is greatly inspiring in terms of thinking about the future of representation. The Surrealists, with their exploration of the unconscious and manipulation of reality, inspire me in blending the psychological with the fantastical. Lastly, I am inspired by fellow artists who do a lot with very little, as their resourcefulness and ingenuity encourage me to prioritize creating regardless of the circumstances.
Infra Ohentra, 2023, oil on canvas, 24'' x 18''
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
Donna Haraway’s philosophy on human-nonhuman relations has deeply influenced my recent work.Her ideas have inspired me to consider how different entities—whether human, animal, or machine—are interwoven within complex ecosystems and how these relationships affect the structures of power.. Michel Foucault’s theories on surveillance resonate with my interest in how power dynamics play out in the act of observation. Roland Barthes’ exploration of meaning in images and texts informs my understanding of how viewers interpret and construct knowledge from what they see.As for films, growing up in Greece in the early 2000's I found myself reasonating and indulging in the Greek Weird Wave, a movement of Greek cinema that emerged as a response to the country’s economic and social challenges. Surreal storytelling, dark humor, departure from traditional narrative structures. They made me more aware of the tension between reality and absurdity, as well as the ways in which unconventional storytelling can highlight the complexities and contradictions of life.
(Left) Studio view (Right) Your Gaze (In The Depths of My Gorgon Heart), 2024. Installation (oil on canvas and wood panel), 189'' x 108''
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Lean into your strangest parts, they are the best.
What is the best advice you would give to other artists?
You are the advocate for your work, so stand behind what you believe. While feedback and advice are valuable, when you are working allow yourself the freedom to focus on your vision without being weighed down by conventions, external views and criticism.
Studio view
Stay up to date with Anna Samara
Website annasamara.com
Instagram @annasamarasi