Sam Colt ~ Artist
In the beginning, when I arrive at my table, I tune in to an inner frequency by the small acts of pulling out materials one by one, and taking stock.
I started off in NYC studying the hoity old European canon of decorative arts; gold-leaf, faux-bois, grisaille and the like and graduated to running my own business installing Venetian plaster finishes in high-end environs there for years, tackling massive projects for the likes of Rolex, etc. This early pursuit of technical excellence ~ paired with the rangy looseness developed in running large scale installations ~ eventually rotated into a study of Icon writing, which, in turn, tricked me into a full-time practice of making gallery art in my studio in Montpelier, using the go-to materials and techniques I once used on large scale jobs.
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In the studio I apply multiple coats of Italian marble plasters on hardboard panels which I zip around on with knives to reveal under-stories, burnishing mica or ashes from a fire or a cremation into the matrix. The resulting complex surfaces serve as the backdrop for quick sketches of stuff that moves me: Ships, cities, key-stoned bridges, architectural elements. These frequent fliers are often meditated on with bits of gold leaf, gouache washes, charcoal, acids, waxes & varnishes. ​​​​​​
Influences thus far are JMW Turner, Hilma af Klint, Anselm Keifer, William Blake, Peter Doig, Sesshu Toyo, Martin Puryear, Ruth Asawa, & my mentor David Wiggins.
S A M C O L T C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E
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2016 ~ present Opened studio at 24 Main Street, Montpelier, Vermont
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Representation & Galleries
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2019 ~ present FineLeaf.net
2018 ~ 2019 The Front Gallery, Montpelier, VT ~ member two years.
2017 ~ present Furchgott-Sourdiffe Gallery ~ Shelburne, VT since 2017
2017 ~ present Main Street Gallery ~ Manasquan, NJ since 2017
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Solo
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2020 Main Street Gallery, Manasquan, NJ
2019 J. Langdon Antiques, Montpelier, VT
2018 Permanent installation in the Savoy Theater, Montpelier, Vermont
2017 Kent Museum show group show
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Exibitions
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2017 Kent Museum, Calais, VT
2018 Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne, VT
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Prior Career
2007 - 2017 Designed&Installed artisan plaster in Vermont, San Francisco & NYC
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2003 - 2007 Founder & Creative Director of Coltworks Inc. New York, New York
Designed and installed decorative plaster veneer finishes for architectural and design firms in NYC and privately held corporate headquarters in Manhattan including Rolex, EMI Records and WebMD as well as and high-end residences in NYC, The Hamptons, Westchester County, Boston, Bal Harbor, Palm Beach & San Francisco.
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2000 - 2003 Creative Director of DFB Sales, Long Island City, New York
Designed and produced comprehensive line of high-end industrial and corporate wall surfacing made out of proprietary flexible materials to resemble classic Venetian Plaster finishes.
Rolled out line to Architectural and Design community of Manhattan for Harvey Fein, DFB President with presentations and in-house educational demonstrations. Developed custom surfaces for A&D clientele and produced accomplished site work. Interfaced with A&D throughout maturation of design and installation process to advance synthesis of design expectation within site limitations. Ran the studio to produce samples and develop procedural protocols for efficient job installation, trained all installers and interfaced with painters union rules and regs. Managed installations and crew and controlled for quality through-out. Generated custom samples on demand to support sales force; augmenting sales as product presenter and educational resource liason between sales personnel and A&D firms.
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1998 - 2000 Partnered with Re-Creations Studio in NYC
Design, present, and install custom decorative paint finishes in NYC.
1997 - 1999 Freelance Decorative Paint and Plaster Design & Installation
Design, present, and install decorative paint, artisan plasters and murals as freelance operator in NYC
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1991 First of three children arrives.
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1987 – 1990 Production assistant ~ backdrops for prop stylist on print-ads in Boston, Mass
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1986 Graduated from U-32 Highschool, Berlin, Vermont
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1999 - 2003
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2003 - 2007
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Awards
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Exhibitions
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