Exhibitions

2023, Group Exhibition, Birth of the Sprite, HOMME, Washington, D.C.

2019, Group Exhibition, SAMASAMA, Saint of Commodification, Shopkeepers Gallery, Washington, D.C

2018, EXOTIC GOODS, Shopkeepers Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2018, Group Exhibition, ARTual Reality: A Nightly Stroll Through the Subconscious, EPIC, Washington, D.C.

2018 Group Exhibition, SAMASAMA, Symbiosis, Shopkeepers Gallery, Washington, D.C.

2015, SEAMS, HOMME, Washington, D.C.

SEAMS

SEAMS. No matter the division we are still one. It is the seams that bind us. Lust, hate, sex, violence,love, selflessness, a common enemy represent the seams. The true task is to find Beauty in it all.

SEAMS was presented at HOMME in Washington, D.C. All prints were 1 of 10, numbered and signed. A one-of-a-kind Polaroid accompanied each print. Additionally, Michelle Samson created an untitled installation piece that coincided with the concept of the photography exhibition.

Photography: Donavan Gerald

Wardrobe Stylist: Tam-Ahn Nguyen

Floral Prop Stylist: Michelle Samson

Graphic Design: Ben Biondo

ARTual Reality: A Nightly Stroll Through The Subconscious

Michelle Samson presented a wood installation piece and performance art piece for this show.

Artist Statement: We are all connected and dependent on one another. What if that connection and support were put to the test?

The performance art piece was a social experiment. Twine pieces were placed around the artist who was sitting on the chair. Observers could take a piece of twine and tie anywhere on the artist. If the observer participated, where the observer tied the twine and how was telling and supposed to reveal the personality of the observer. Out of the more than 50 observers who participated, only one person asked if the artist was okay, if the observer was hurting the artist.

About the show

Let's expand how we EXPERIENCE art. Explore and escape to our ARTual Reality.

The Wabi-Sabi Society hosted an evening of interplay and shifting artscapes where the audience can be artists/performers, and every entity from sound to someone is a muse.

Art will be alive, art will be active.

Music, sculpture, paintings, performance - all manifested through mutual inspiration, allied influence with the overarching theme of dreams and the subconscious. Recipro-creating over refreshments. It and everything...a conversation piece.

Artists collaborated throughout the evening creating artwork in various "exhibits". This interactive experience was designed to involve attendees in the art creation process. Once you tickets were purchased, a series of questions were shared about dreams, wandering thoughts, fantasies, nightmares, etc. through emailed surveys and online engagement on the Facebook event page. The answers and feedback will give artists material, subject matter, colors, and other forms of inspiration for the art manifested on site.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Lee Anderson, vocalist

Celina Ces, performance artist

Jamie Garcia, performance artist

Mykl Gormley, portrait artist

Shanna Lim, performance artist

Nirmal Mankani (NotNxrmal), DJ

Liah Perez, vocalist

Jeff Prioleau, video production

Michelle Samson, MISA Floral

Scott Seeborg, pastel artist

EXOTIC GOODS

How does one appreciate the exotic without fetishizing it? EXOTIC GOODS examines the tenuous relationship between objectification and admiration through familiar representations of what's beautiful: the female form, and the natural beauty of flowers. EXOTIC GOODS explores the fetishization and commodification of Asian women. “You look so exotic. Where are you from?” are common words Asian women are approached with. This exhibition examines the objectification inherent in the term “exotic” and challenges accepted definitions of beauty, diversity, and acceptance.

Featuring a collection of images, mixed media art, and film, EXOTIC GOODS not only documents the often-blurred lines between compliment and condescension but also challenges the filters through which beauty is recognized and commodified.

Permanent digital space and more information:

https://www.exoticgoods.art/

@exoticgoods_art

#ExoticGoodsDC

Bruce Allen is a Fashion and Fine Art published photographer based in Washington D.C. He runs an active Youtube and a podcast called "that's the angle”. Follow him on Instagram, @thebruceallen.

Jamie Garcia is a local event planner, performance artist, and dancer. In her immersive performance art, she makes the peculiar approachable, the uncomfortable embraced, the unseen acknowledged, and the conventional challenged. Follow her on Instagram, @apetiteperformer.

Michelle Samson is a published floral designer/artist based in the Washington D.C. area, who creates textual compositions using a mix of florals, foraged materials, skeleton leaves, dyed florals, dried florals and plants. Follow her on Instagram, @misafloral.

Other

Jeff Prioleau is a self taught creative based in Alexandria, VA. Jeff is a published videographer but is also known to dabble in photography as well. Follow him on Instagram, @jeprioleau.

Rachel Lane is a published freelance makeup artist specializing in bridal, editorial and fashion beauty/grooming. Follow her on Instagram, @rachellanemakeup.