i’m sam, also known as surreal suspect collage. hi & WELCOME!
I am a Michigan native, a wife, a mother of two, and a self-taught artist. I have been collaging seriously since 2019, and what started as a whimsy has now turned into a full-fledged passion and outward extension of myself.
When I was a senior in high school many years ago, our English teacher tasked us with creating surreal collages as a culmination of his unit on absurdism. I thought nothing of the lesson at the time other than it being a very enjoyable break from the monotony of schoolwork. About ten years later, I was at John King Books in downtown Detroit, and discovered a floor to ceiling wall of National Geographic Magazines. Suddenly, this lesson in collage came flooding back to me and the rest, as they say, is history. (Thank you, Ike, for your dedication to your students and for always encouraging us to think outside of the box.)
My craft has shifted and grown over the years, however one thing remains the same. Every piece that I create is done entirely by hand with paper, scissors, an x-acto knife, and glue. There are no digital enhancements or elements to my work whatsoever. While I do see the merit of digital art, there is something to be said about limiting myself to the ephemera available to me. This can be both a challenge and a blessing, as the material oftentimes is limiting, forcing me to open up to new and exciting possibilities.
All of my source material is found at used bookstores, thrift shops, charity from friends and family (I am often a dumping ground for old magazines and encyclopedias), library book sales, and even advertisements left in our mailbox. I am particularly fond of black and white Hollywood photos, and in recent years have gravitated towards using women in one way or another, as the focal point of my art.
Breathing new life into discarded media is one of the immense joys of my life. It has led me down a path of beautiful self-expression, and, I hope, leaves a mark—no matter how small—on my corner of the world.
Prost!