Bio
Samuel is an artist, designer, researcher and collaborator. His practice centers on crafting evocative, sculptural furniture and objects. Each piece considers the stories we tell through the objects we live with and the role those narratives play in our collective future. Samuel intentionally works with commercially available, bio-based materials, the process considers where materials come from, how they are sourced, where they go at end of life and how the entire lifecycle will impact the stakeholders (environment, economy, and community). Samuel’s approach is experimental and leverages a circular mindset to objectively show our environmental hurdles are not a matter of resources but design ingenuity and industriousness.
Materiality and exploration are driving forces. Aesthetics and supply chains are the influences. Collectively, these are the priorities.
Artist Statement
“I find myself inspired by artisanal processes that stand the test of time and reflect a harmonious relationship between humanity and environment. There is a transformative power in learning and preserving techniques that enrich our understanding of culture and contribute to sustainable living and industry. My work looks to history to understand pre-industrial materials and processes and re-thinks application and technique. I see this as an opportunity to promote the use of natural materials by bridging the gap between traditional techniques and contemporary object making.”
Accolades
Samuel is a Hyundai Collaborative Research Fellow, a Maharam STEAM Fellow, and is the recipient of the RISD Grad Commons Grant, SPUR Fund Grant, Windgate Foundation Scholarship and an alumnus of American Craft Council’s 2024 Emerging Artists Cohort. His work has been shown at Collectible Design Fair (NYC), Salone Satellite (Milan) and in multiple group shows including the Robert C Williams Museum of Paper Making (Atlanta) and the New Britain Museum of American Art (New Britain, CT). Samuel has received "Best of Year" and “NYCxDesign” awards from Interior Design Magazine, was recently listed in Signt Unseen’s 2025 American Design Hot List and has been featured in the New York Times, Dezeen and Dwell. His work is currently exhibited in Galeria Territorio (Mexico City) and BCMT Gallery (Kingston, NY).
Exhibitions
2024 Sensibility Conversation Exhibition, BCMT Gallery, Kingston, NY (group show)
2024 New Altitudes Exhibition, University of Denver Academic Commons, Denver, CO (group show)
2024 SII Studio Show, SII Gallery, New York, NY (group show)
2024 Curated Exhibition, Collectible Fair, New York, NY (group show)
2024 Nor’Easter 54th Annual Exhibition, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT (group show)
2024 Special Selection Exhibition, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI (group show)
2024 Exhibition, Territorio Galeria, Mexico City (group show)
2024 Material Opulence, Wanted Design, New York, NY (group show)
2024 Objects May Shift, Satellite Salone Del Mobile, Milan (group show)
2024 Sustainability in Chaos Juried Exhibition Triennial, Robert C. Williams Museum, Atlanta, GA (group show)
2023 Momentum, Alcova Miami, Miami, FL (group show)
2023 Sustainability in Chaos Juried Exhibition Triennial, NAHP Paper Tides Conference, Providence, RI (group show)
2023 Paper Chemistry, Waterman Gallery, Providence, RI (group show)
2023 Graduate Biennial, Sol Keffler, Providence, RI (group show)
2023 Launchpad, Wanted Design, New York, NY (group show)
2023 Rewilded Domesticity, Wanted Design, New York, NY (group show)
2023 STEAM Room Gallery, Brown University, Providence, RI (group show)
2022 Furniture Triennial, Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI (group show)
Awards & Grants
2025 Sight Unseen’s American Design Hot List
2025 DesignxRI Design Catalyst Program
2024 American Craft Council Emerging Artist Cohort
2024 Visitors Choice Award at the New Britain Museum of American Art
2024 Charles and Ray Eames Award: Excellence in Innovative Design Production
2024 NYCxDesign Winner (Student Category)
2024 SPUR Fund Grant
2023 Maharam Fellow
2023 Hyundai Collaborative Research Fellow
2023 Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Winner (Student Category)
2023 RISD Graduate Commons Grant
2023 Windgate Foundation Scholarship
2023 RISD Grad Conference Grant
2022 RISD Materials Fund Grant
Notable Press
Jan 2025, “2025 American Design Hot List”, Sight Unseen
Aug 2024, “The Craft of Sustainable Design”, Pale Blue Magazine
May 2024, “Inspired Research”, Momentum Magazine
May 2024, “A Site for Discovering Contemporary, Collectible Design”, ICFF + Adorno Brand Spotlight
May 2024, “How Should We Live Now?”, Sight Unseen
Apr 2024, “At Milan Design Week, the Power Is Often in the Collection”, New York Times
Mar 2024, “Compostable Commercial Furniture”, Learnings Podcast
Sep 2023, “Design Ingenuity Above Resource Reliance”, stir pad
Education
MFA Furniture Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI (May 2024)
BS Construction Management, Illinois State University, Normal IL (May 2008)