Meet Samara Ash | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samara Ash and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samara, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe that success is composed of various factors beginning with being truthful & consistent in your artistic output. It is essential to produce work that reflects your personal style and vision. This requires being true to ourselves while also being attentive to the needs of the client. Communicating with clients, asking questions, and attentively listening allows me to gain a better understanding of what they are looking for in a piece of artwork… What is their story? What are their goals? What is their brand about? Who is their clientele? Where will the work be displayed? This means being responsive to their requests, offering suggestions and guidance, and being aware of deadlines.

Placing myself in my clients’ shoes is helpful as it leads me to strive to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible for them. Add to this being reliable, punctual, and respectful in all interactions as this professionalism will result in strong and long-lasting relationships that yield repeat customers.

Overall, I believe that the most important factor is loving what you do so that the whole process brings a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment. Life takes many turns… countless are unexpected, some are low, several are high, and a few are just plain awful, but when you truly enjoy what you do, you go to sleep happy and look forward to a new tomorrow.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to where I am today professionally was not easy. It has taken a lot of hard work, persistence, and indefatigable dedication to my craft. I’ve learned along the way the importance of building relationships within the art community & how crucial it is to establish a support system of fellow artists, mentors, and clients who believe in your work and can offer guidance and opportunities.

I’m a true believer that art should be more than just decoration; it should be a reflection of our values, beliefs, and aspirations. I’m Samara Ash, a female Miami-based interdisciplinary artist from Bogota, Colombia. In my work, I research power & frailty by drawing inspiration from personal experiences of potentiality and weakness. Through my practice, I create paintings, photographs, large-scale murals, and installations.

I see artists as ambassadors of hope establishing discussions that help to counterbalance the anxiety and uncertainty prevalent in our times. Helping to ease the processing of ideas and stimulating the creative-self to have edifying responses to our everyday life and contributing to a more positive and empathetic society.

My art journey led me to establish Samara Ash Studio in order to meet the art demands of a fast-growing city, Miami. Through SAS, I create artworks for a diverse group of clients seeking for art to be placed into residential & commercial buildings, boutiques, small businesses, and breweries. My focus on capturing the essence of the community and bringing my artistic vision to life results in pieces that not only beautify their surroundings, but also leave a lasting impact on the lives of the people who experience them. I’m inspired by the transformative power of art and my goal is to push the boundaries of this art form whilst creating works that motivate, uplift, and leave a lasting impression. I want the world to know that my brand is about using art as a means of communication… a powerful tool for social transformation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami is an ecclectic city inhabited by fun, exciting, creative, and entrepreneurial minds, so there is something amazing to do all the time. If my best friend was visiting from out of town, I would take her to see some of the great art venues in town. I would start off by taking her to Locust Projects (Miami’s longest-running alternative art space) in Little Haiti, the De la Cruz Collection – 30,000 square foot museum housing Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz art collection, world renowned Rubell Museum -one of the biggest private contemporary art collections in North America, and finish at the Perez Art Museum which showcases 20th- and 21st-century artists.

Another day, I would take her to visit the artist studios at Fountainhead, Little River where she can chat with the artists & see the behind the scenes as they create in their studios. The following day, we would take a trip to the Bakehouse Art Complex where round-two of our studio visits would continue.

In regards to food, there are many delicious spots to visit. One of my favorites is a colorful family-owned Indonesian restaurant in Downtown Miami called Bali Cafe. This incredible gem was established in 2002 and it’s owned by a kind and hard working mom named Cita. The food is absolutely incredible; you can find dishes like the Nasi Goreng Spesial (fried rice served in a bento-box  with rendang sapi, sautéed vegetables, opor ayam, acar, and garlic crackers) and fresh sushi/sashimi.

Finally, we would visit the beach & ride bikes though an abandoned 1948 Key Biscayne zoo. Large concrete and coral block walls, small lakes, a canal, several buildings, & peeling murals are now surrounded by beautiful greenery and various wild peacocks, lizards, ducks, rabbits, & birds that make this a poetic-blast-from-the-past.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Kathryn Mikesell, founder of The Fountainhead Studios. Kathryn’s vision and hard work have invigorated a remarkable community of artists in Miami, offering affordable and flexible workspace that has allowed us to focus on our craft without the financial burdens of renting expensive ateliers. The Fountainhead Studios has been a crucial resource for Miami-based artists, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this vibrant crew.

Kathryn’s dedication to empowering and supporting artists extends beyond The Fountainhead Studios. Her creation of The Fountainhead Residency, which brings artists from all over the world to live and work in Miami, has provided an opportunity for cultural exchange and artistic growth.

Her efforts have had a ripple effect on the cultural fabric of Miami, and her advocacy for a community that supports creatives and their work has propelled many to build thriving careers. I’m grateful for her contributions to the art world and the impact she has made on the lives of so many artists, including myself. Thank you, Kathryn Mikesell, for your unwavering support and dedication to the arts!

Website: www.SamaraAsh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samaraashstudio/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samaraash

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamaraAshStudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samaraashstudio/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/samara-ash-studio-miami

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samaraashstudio

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@samaraashstudio

Image Credits
Sabrina Fazai for SAMARA ASH STUDIO