

Samantha Kirk
Chicago, IL
About the Artist
Sam Kirk, a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Chicago and Brooklyn, explores culture, identity and urban politics through her art. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a mixed race family, she has always been fascinated with community and culture. Taking experiences from her own upbringing and merging them with insights obtained during travel, her work is known for its vibrant color palette, whimsical characters and, profound stories laced with optimism.
Fascinated with people, their culture and how they express their identity, Sam is provoked to share stories i…
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Join NowAbout the Artist
Sam Kirk, a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Chicago and Brooklyn, explores culture, identity and urban politics through her art. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a mixed race family, she has always been fascinated with community and culture. Taking experiences from her own upbringing and merging them with insights obtained during travel, her work is known for its vibrant color palette, whimsical characters and, profound stories laced with optimism.
Fascinated with people, their culture and how they express their identity, Sam is provoked to share stories in her work about the individuals she meets and the communities they are part of. Her creative process involves frequent voyages so she may engage with a variety of people in different cities.
Recognized for her public art and solo shows in Chicago, Sam Kirk has exhibited in New York, Miami, Washington DC, and Minneapolis. She is currently the official Chicago Made SXSW 2015 Artist, recently won the Curator’s Choice award at the Redbull Curates Chicago contest and, exhibited at Scope art fair in December 2014. She has been commissioned by Guinness, Smirnoff, Ciroc, Rolling Stone Magazine and Proctor & Gamble.
Sam earned a B.F.A. in Interior Design and a B.A. in Marketing from Columbia College in Chicago.
Artist’s Work


































Selected Exhibitions
- National Museum of Mexican Art: Peeling Off the Grey
Chicago, 2018 - Stony Island Arts Bank: Iconic Black Panther
Chicago, 2018 - Chicago Cultural Center: Bronzeville Echoes
Chicago, 2018 - DuSable Museum of African American Art
Chicago, 2017 - Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago, 2017 - National Museum of Mexican Art
Chicago, 2017 - World Trade Gallery
New York , 2016 - UIC Gender and Sexuality Center
Chicago, 2016
Press and Accolades
- Out Magazine: 20 Illustrators you should be following on Instagram
March 2017 - The Atlantic
March 2017 - Windy City Times
January 2015 - WGN Radio Interview
October 2018 - ABC Television Interview
July 2018 - WBEZ News: Mural Unveiling
September 2018 - Chicago Ideas Blog
July 2018 - Hyperallergic
October 2018
Education
- Columbia College, BFA, Marketing Communication
Chicago,2004 - International Academy of Art & Design, BFA, Interior Architecture
Chicago,2002