Sam Stewart

Sam Stewart (b. 1988, North Carolina) is a New York based artist whose work resembles and functions as household furniture and domestic objects. As sculptures, they often take on animistic qualities that border on the absurd and whimsical, but also the slightly perverse.

His forms, colors, and shifts in scale collapse observations of his present—from everyday New York spaces (drainage pipelines, subway seating), iconic 20th century design, and 3D modeling software—with those that evoke his memory of childhood perception. Although his source material tends to be specific (retro sets and costumes from children’s movies of the 80s and 90s, like Beetlejuice or Big, the mass produced palette of Fisher Price, the extruding and distorting tools of Google Sketch Up) and projects carefully researched (from the history of the execution chair and UFO spotting’s to virtual reality and 3D scanning technology), the objects themselves are aimed at a more visceral, bodily and emotive response akin to creating and reading a painted image.

He is interested in design that elicits a heightened simplicity and exaggerated satisfaction of looking, as much he wants to draw out awkward, more anecdotal encounters with the designed object.

Stewart’s studio practice involves meticulous attention to craftsmanship and working with fabricators and modes of production typically adopted by professionals in the field.

Photo credit: Brian Ferry

Available Work

Sam Stewart

Night Light #4 / 2018

Plywood, MDF, lacquer, LED, acrylic

Sam Stewart

E-Collar / 2022

Cotton, steel, paint, horsehair, electrical components

Images Courtesy Samuel Spreyz for Novembre Global

2.50h x 23.50w x 23.50d in

Sam Stewart

Privacy Screen / 2022

Stainless steel

76h x dimensions vary

Sam Stewart

Lefty #000-12 / 2022

UV epoxy resin plastic

73h x 22w x 14d in

Sam Stewart

Yeeted Image / 2022

Stainless steel, trampoline springs

38h x 48w x 34d in

Sam Stewart

Extended Release / 2022

Polyvinyl fabric, air

26h x 126w x 44d in

Sam Stewart

Dad Joke / 2022

Aluminum

25h x 77w x 19d in

Sam Stewart

Sleepyhead / 2022

Plywood, asphalt shingles, versatile plastic, acrylic

72h x 72w x 6.50d in

Sam Stewart

Lamellae Lamp / 2021

Made in collaboration with Victoria Yee Howe, Hand-pleated, unbleached muslin, steel

27h x 15w x 15d in

Sam Stewart

Lamellae Lamp / 2021

Made in collaboration with Victoria Yee Howe, Hand-pleated, unbleached muslin, steel

27h x 15w x 15d in

Sam Stewart

Receiver / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

3h x 18w x 5.50d in

Sam Stewart

Bulb / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

48h x 26w x 26d in

Sam Stewart

Lungs / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

25h x 10w x 7d in

Sam Stewart

Liferaft / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

11h x 76w x 40d in

Sam Stewart

AE350 / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

4h x 15w x 10d in

Sam Stewart

Shed / 2020

Ripstop nylon, fiberglass, rubber

Unique

18h x 7w x 7d in

Sam Stewart

Night Light #3 / 2018

Plywood, MDF, lacquer, LED, acrylic

13h x 18w x 8d in

Sam Stewart

Night Light #2 / 2018

Plywood, MDF, lacquer, LED, acrylic

14.50h x 9w x 9d in

Exhibitions

Fairs