NEXUS MODERN ART

Samantha Ricciotti    b.1972

Samantha Ricciotti is a local Melbourne artist, her work is abstract with bold use of color, acrylic, enamel and collage, defined by layers of vibrant color, texture and spontaneity. Samantha’s art is striking and the Interior design industry are collecting her paintings as fast as she can produce them.

"I let each composition evolve organically as layers of color are added, I seek to create depth and interest by embracing the irregularities of texture and form as the paint is randomly applied."

AUSTRALIANA

Samantha’s new body of work, "Australiana," all began with the rain or more importantly lack there of. When Samantha arrived back in Australia in 2003 she planted a small garden. It died. No rain. A few years later when it was time to plant a much larger garden she delved into the arena of native and indigenous plant species.

Plants that had inhabited our now suburban plot for hundreds, thousands, millions of years before us. Simultaneously her insatiable bower bird activities that began as a child continued on. As Samantha perused markets, sought out op shops and dawdled by dumpsters, her focus narrowed from flora and fauna in general, to Australian native. Slowly the whole world of Australiana souvenirs began to enthrall her. Table cloths, tea towels, ceramic figurines, tea spoons and swap cards. All beautiful, proudly made right here, bought by someone who loved them so much they took them home as keep sakes and reminders of the good times they had had on holidays. Full of happy energies and good intentions they were eventually abandoned, laying in wait for Samantha or one of her wonderful friends to find on her behalf.

Now they are returned, a mish-mash of colour and inspiration as a celebration of our country and its beauty and most importantly of the rain. The sustenance of our existence in this fragile place.

Exhibitions include
2009 ’Australiana,’ Nexus Modern Art
2007 Wall to Wall Women, Nexus Modern Art
2006 Nexus Modern Art
2005 Studio Six, Richmond