Samantha Van Heest Paintings

Shit happens sometimes. In this piece, the artist wanted to create an unsettling and claustrophobic space where people feel most private and vulnerable. Inspired by artist Tala Madani, she created a cartoon figure to act as the voyeur, a bright and unwelcome disturbance that cannot be ignored. Samantha Van Heest...

This study takes inspiration from historical “reclining nude” paintings, most of which were painted through the perspective of the male gaze. The artist wanted to change the narrative and make the woman feel more empowered and dominant in her situation, aware of the power she holds. Samantha Van Heest...

Ellipses plays with the nature of awkward interaction and subtle facial expressions. Is it all internal, or can awkwardness feel like a palpable and personified presence? Samantha Van Heest...

This painting was inspired by the artists very first toy, a small blue giraffe, given to her as a day-old baby. It is something that has been around her whole life, and even though it is inanimate, there is a feeling of personification through the years of wear. Her brother as a baby would call giraffes “fa,” which is always a sweet memory she associate with this toy. Samantha Van Heest...

Imported Goods is an exploration of environment, especially focusing on the wellness of the ocean and the consequences of human plastic consumption. There is beauty in appreciation and replication, but it becomes a tragedy when it fully devours natural creation. Samantha Van Heest...

It’s Okay, Little Crab (Sensory Overload) in a way feels like a self portrait, with the vacuum acting as a personified vision of time and societal expectation. The vacuum may never reach the crab, but its loud and disturbing presence will. Samantha Van Heest...

Pull Shapes (Duet) is a diptych that subtly explores surrealism, focusing in on the intimacy of the bedroom space. Pillows are this central point of comfort in our day to day, and the artist wanted to play with scale, mystery, and the night table drawer. Samantha Van Heest...

In this charcoal drawing, the artist wanted to explore a composition that juxtaposes the familiar hyper-masculine figurative sculpture with a playful counter on the “bro” mentality. Sometimes humans don’t have to be taken so seriously. Samantha Van Heest...

Samantha Van Heest explores the intimacy of impermanence through her work, utilizing still life, found objects, and portraiture through minimalist r...