bridges and ships and cathedrals and old sheds.
sam colt mission statement
Rooted in a lineage of mariners and builders, and a philosophical tradition grounded in spriitual practice, I've been shaped by both rural Vermont and the intricate surfaces of New York’s interiors. My work is a meeting place of the mystical and the material. Using authentic Italian plaster and hand-applied gold leaf, I create layered, luminous surfaces that echo the weight of cathedrals, the decay of old sheds, the geometry of ships, and the liminal spaces in between. Each piece is a tactile meditation—an attempt to translate interior, spiritual landscapes into form. Inspired by visionaries like Blake, Turner, and Hilma af Klint, I aim to honor the unseen, to make it visible, and to offer viewers a portal into their own subconscious terrain. These works are not merely decorative; they are devotional. They hold space. They ask something of you. They are bridges—between matter and spirit, light and shadow, memory and presence.
sam colt process
In order to "get something going" I start by troweling multiple layers of marmorino and/or grassello - which are white marble-based lime putties from Italy - onto hardboard. After whipping the grassello down onto hardboard in quick color layers I carve into it to create underlying structure. The next days will find me picking out areas to cover with brass or silver or gold leaf, pouring washes that settle into the carving and pushing things around. The final days will be about pulling forward or masking earlier layers and adding detail using gouache, varnishes, and cold wax. Here are some images of work in progress and the studio vibe - studio visits welcome - get in touch.