Throughout her life, Samantha has pursued a passion and profession in the visual arts. Originally from the southwestern part of Virginia, she earned a BA in Art from Virginia Tech then continued onto Radford University to seek her MFA. Early in her career, she worked as a graphic designer at Radford University, later transitioning into the art director position at Wake Forest University. Following her visual interests and growth as an artist, she entered a new career in painting in 2010. In her work, Samantha explores relationships between texture, color and subjects while continuing her pursuit of excellence in painting. She lives and works in Chesapeake, Va.

Samantha is represented by Richard Stravitz Gallery in Virginia Beach, Va.

selected group exhibitions

2020 Members Only Competition, Portrait Society of America, Non-Commissioned portrait category, Finalist
2019 11th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va., 2nd place Award
2018  10th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va., 1st place Award
          Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va.
2017  Members Only Competition, Portrait Society of America, Outside the Box category, Finalist
          9th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va., 3rd place Award
          Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va., 
                  Realist Painting Award
2016  8th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va., 3rd place Award
          Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va., 
          Small Works Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va.
2015  7th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va.
           Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va., 
                  Realist Painting Award
           Realism, Abstract and Non-Objective Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va.
           Figure50.com, season 4, selected to represent the state of Virginia
2014   6th Annual Expressions Portrait Competition, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, Va., 
                  First Prize, Honorable Mention
           5th Annual Women Painting Women Juried Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Charleston, S.C.
           Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition, The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, Va.,
                  Award of Distinction