INFO
I’m a socially engaged artist with a supporting studio practice based in rural East Sussex.
I specialise in projects that focus on opinions, society, learning, ecologies and ideas of legitimacy surrounding art, culture and history.
Much of my work is project-based, engaging groups of people in exploring their opinions, ideas and emotions, encouraging radical imagining, embracing tangents, conviviality and mistake-making.
I make drawings, paintings, performances, music, resources and ‘sculptures with purpose’ with a focus on environmentally responsible use of materials. I’m interested in universal similarities, overlaps, all aspects of learning, nature and the nature of people.
I’m just as interested in things that I don’t like as things that I do.
samsamayre@gmail.com ︎
Upcoming Commissions
Project: Big Pavilion Painting Day, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea
Exhibition: Edge Effects, Whitechapel Gallery, London
Project: See and Be Seen, Equal Arts, Bexhill on Sea
Project: Schools Projects for Turner Prize 2023, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne
Residency: West Dean College of Art, West Sussex
Residency: Ark Academies, Artist in Residence
Past Commissions
2024 Talk: Plants, People and Landscapes with Claire Ratinon,Tate Britain
2024 Facilitation: Articualtion Discovery Day, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle 2023 Exhibtion: Two For Joy, group show, San Mei Gallery, London, 24th Nov -14th Dec 2023 Exhibition: Postcards for Palestine, Claire de Rouen Books, London, 14-16th Dec
2023 Commission: Homewares Commission, Van Gogh House Museum, London
2023 Facilitation: Artiulation Discovery Days, Saatchi Gallery, London
2023 Project: Tea Always Tastes Better in the Garden, Equal Arts, Bexhill
2023 Project: Hen Party, Elizabeth Court Rest Home,Equal Arts, Bexhill
2023 Project: Curate this Space, Alexandra Palace x OOF Gallery, Tottenham, London 2023 Facilitation: Articulation Discovery Day w/Quarterhouse and The National Gallery, Folkestone2023 Project: Flagging and Mapping, De La Warr Pavilion and Heart of Sidley, Sidley,
2022 Facilitation: Articulation Discovery Day, Pallant House, Chichester 2022 Exhibtion: Terroir (On the Nose, Collected Fictions, St Leonards on Sea, 5th August - 5th September
2022 Project: A studio space for 180, 14 year olds to work together, Freelands Foundation, London 2022 Project: Eating Drinking Thinking Talking Drawing, with Blueprint Collective, De La Warr Pavilion2022 Project: Summer Project, with Richard Phoenix, for Heart of Sidley, De La Warr Pavilion2022 Residency/Exhibtion: Open Plan, Towner, Eastbourne
2022 Project: From the Ground Up, workshop co-led with Claire Ratinon for Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge
2022 Project: A Breath of Fresh Air, workshop co-led w/Claire Ratinon for Wellcome Collection, London2022 Facilitation: Articulation Discovery Day for The National Gallery, Quarterhouse Folkestone2022 Talk: Decolonise the Garden, w/Claire Ratinon, Sui Searle, Owen Griffiths, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea
2022 Project: Beyond Imagination and Limits, supporting Richard Phoenix, Parchment Trust, De La Warr Pavilion 2022 Talk: Rough Trade Books x Garden Museum Anniversary Party, Arnold Circus, London2022 Exhibition: No More Hot Air, Group Show, Art Gene, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
2021 Facilitation: CPD for Teachers and Educators, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea2021 Residency: Artist in Residence, Art Gene, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
2021 Installation: Pour Decisions with Claire Ratinon, Power to Change, Tate Modern, London
2021 Project: All Experiences Dissolve into Experiences, Schools and Communities project, Folkestone Triennial
2021 Project: Sidley Tourist Board, Sidley, East Sussex
2021 Project: All The Time Under Our Feet, Englands Creative Coast Geocache Commission, Bexhill on Sea 2021 Project:100% Compost, a compost heap sculpture for a school, All Saints Primary School, Sidley
2021 Resource: Follow Your Nose, enquiry prompting app, De La Warr Pavilion
2021 Project: After School: Signs and Messages, National Gallery, London
2021 Talk:Rough Trade In Conversation; Claire Ratinon, Sam Ayre, Zakiya McKenzie, Garden Museum, London
2021 Talk; Claire Ratinon, Sam Ayre and Sarah Hughes, West Dean Garden’s Residency
2021 Print: Horticultural Appropriation:Why Horticulture Needs Decolonising w/Claire Ratinon, Rough Trade 2021 Project: If I Had All The Time in the World..., Whitechapel Gallery and Tower Hamlets Schools, London.
2021 Project:You Will Hear Us!, Whitechapel Gallery and Newham Primary Schools, London
2020 Resource: Naturally Focused, Big Draw Drawing Resource, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea
2020 Project:Everything Changes Everything, with Young Creatives , De La Warr Pavilion,, Bexhill on Sea
2020 Resource: Who’s On The Pedestal?, Art UK Home School Resource
2020 Project: We Make Noise, Youth Manifesto Project, Alexandra Palace Creativity Pavilion, London
2020 Project: New Rituals, with the Young Creatives at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
2020 Project: Utopian Landscapes, Open School East, Young Associates Programme, Margate
2020 Project: We Insist! Quarter House, Folkestone
2020 Exhibtion: Pour Decisions, solo exhibition, Tina We Salute You, London
2020 Facilitation: Radical Figures Teachers Workshop, Whitechapel Gallery, London
2020 Facilitation: Creative Careers Convesations, Bow Arts x Sarah Bonnell School, Stratford, London 2020 Project: Portraying Pregnancy, Early Years portrait, music and fashion workshops, Foundling Museum 2019 Project: Showy Business, Early Years fashion, music and movement workshops, Foundling Museum
2019 Talk: People Go to Art Galleries On Their Days Off, PechuKutcha Talk, De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill
2019 Project: Boss Not the Bossed, Open School East Young Arts Producers, Margate
2019 Project: Mapping Margate, Turner Contemporary, Margate
2019 Project: Environmental Environments, Stormont House School
2019 Exhibition: Pour Decisions, 176 Gallery (Balcone)
2019 Residency: Portland Inn Project with Collective Matter, Contemporary Sculpture Fulmer
2019 Project: Art of Change, Young Creatives, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhil-on-Sea
2019 Project: Text Message, Stormont House SEND School
2019 Project: Take It As A Sign, Tranquil City and London National Park City Festival
2019 Project: Family Day, Vestry House Museum x Art Night 2019
2019 Facilitation: Teachers Workshop, Michael Rakowitz exhibtion at Whitechapel Gallery,
2019 Project: Bored of Discussion, performance at Royal London Hospital with Vital Art,
2019 Project: Intergenerational Project, Royal London Children’s Hospital, with Vital Arts and Art Night
2019 Mountains of Art, Stormont House SEND School
2019 Creative Career Careering, Harry Gosling Primary School with Whitechapel Gallery
2018 Sam’s Saloon, Tate Modern, October 2018
2018 Sam’s Saloon, Tate Modern, Septmeber 2018
2018 Nod Scene, Art Night 2018
2018 Take It As A Sign, Chelsea Fringe Festival, Chrsitchurch Primary School
2018 Sam’s Saloon, Tate Exchange, Tate Modern, 19th and 20th May
2017/18 Art Night 2017 Legacy Programme with Vital Arts at The Royal London Children’s Hospital
2017/18 Creative Learning Residency, Bobby Moore Academy, Stratford, London
2017 Foundation Years Contemporary Creativity, Little Londoners, Hackney, London
2017 Confidence in Public Speaking, Pitzhanger Manor, Dormers Wells Secondary School, Ealing
2017 I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better; Philosophy for Children workshop, Manorfield Primary School, Newham
2017 Creative Careers, Morpeth School, Tower Hamlets, London
2017 Prickly Wire Spinny Nail, Stormont House School Residency, Hackney, London
2017 Primary School Workshops exploring Eduardo Paolozzi, Whitechapel Gallery, London
2016 Exploring Distopia/Utopia, Whitechapel Gallery, Morpeth School, London
2016 Bodies and Mark Making, Whitechapel Gallery, The Garden SEN School, Hackney, London
2016 Mistake Mark Making, Whitechapel Gallery, The Courtyard SEN School, Islington, London
2015 Primary School Print workshops, Goldsmiths University Outreach, Goldsmiths University
2014 Stair Well Being: Positive Messages for a School Environment, Bridge Academy, Hackney
2014 Courage Aspiration Success: A collaboration with 184 teenagers, Hackney Art Show, London
2014 BBC Music Makers, Pilot TV program exploring contemporary art/classical composers, Stanhope Primary School, Ealing
2014 Speech and Language project with SEN students and Celine Condorelli exhibition, Chisenhale Gallery, Hackney, London
2012 - 14 Contemporary Art Society, Bridge Academy, Hackney, London
2013 Stan: A social interaction and horticulture experiment with secondary school students, Bridge Academy, Hackney, London
2013 Using ’Dalston House’ by Leandro Elrich to explore Geometry, Barbican Centre, London
2013 An Idea: a drawing to support opinions of visitors and participants, Hackney Art Show, London
Jobs
2017 - 2018 Head of Art, Bobby Moore Academy2014 - 2016 Curator: Schools and Teachers, Whitechapel Gallery,
2012 - 2014 SEN Learning Support Assistant, Bridge Academy, Hackney
2008 - 2012 Art & Music Workshop Leader, Healthy Living Club @ Stockwell
2011- 2012 Arts and Music Facilitator, Rosemary Works School
2012 Mentor, A New Direction
Training
2008 BA Byam Shaw School of Art2021 Emergency Paediatric First Aid,STA Level 3
2017 Philosophy for Children, Level 1
2016 Philosophy for Children, Introductory course
2016 Disability Confidence Training, Shape Arts
2013 Emergency First Aid at Work, STS Complete Health and Safety
2013 Art for Special Educational Needs Course, Tate Modern
2012 Teaching & Supervising Transactional Analyst Course, Institute of Developmental Transactional Analysis
2010 Meeting Complex Needs, Alzheimer's Society
Press
Sept 2022 You know you’re doing some good work if you’re annyoing the Daily Mail
Oct 2021 Studio International, Vital Arts
Aug 2017 A5 Magazine, Portfolio #5
Aug 2017 Wotisart Magazine, Issue 5
Aug 2017 Average Art Magazine, Issue 13
Hailsham Community College
Whitechapel Gallery, Edge Effects