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Paintings
Hello! My name is Samantha Wigglesworth and I am a queer, Canadian, contemporary portrait artist in the Lower Mainland. I work with themes of representation of vulnerabilities, from depictions of my 2SLGBTQIA+ community to representing my struggles with my mental health.


If This Continues…
If This Continues… is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


Gold Lining
Gold Lining is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


please stop perceiving me
please stop perceiving me is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


I Wanna Be That Fucked Up Girl
I Wanna Be That Fucked Up Girl is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


Gold Star
Gold Star is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


Suffocating Pressure
Suffocating Pressure is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


Genocide
Genocide is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


The Fragility of Self Preservation
The Fragility of Self Preservation is a part of "Right to Exist", a series funded by the BC Arts Council as part of their Individual Artists Grants.


Confidence
Confidence is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Pride
Pride is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Despair
Despair is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Anguish
Anguish is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Perception
Perception is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Yourself
Yourself is a part of my "Reflections of Societal Expectations" Series as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award through the PoMoArts Gallery.


Bubbly
Bubbly is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Sensory
Sensory is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Anxiety
Anxiety is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Depression
Depression is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Sadness
Sadness is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Masculinity
Masculinity is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Submissive
Submissive is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Dominant
Dominant is a part of my Artist in Residence with Arts North East titled Vulnerably Visible.


Drowning yet Surviving
Drowning yet Surviving is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.
Artist Statement:
This painting is a powerful representation of the mental health struggle one feels on the inside, becoming so much that it has to escape somehow. Feeling as though you are drowning on the inside, the “blood drip” of beads is a representation of it escaping. Yet her calm expression is her trying, and succeeding on just surviving through the internal battle.
Won the Distinguished Reputational Award, at the Open Sky Arts North East Art Exhibition 2023, in Chetwynd BC.
Artist Statement:
This painting is a powerful representation of the mental health struggle one feels on the inside, becoming so much that it has to escape somehow. Feeling as though you are drowning on the inside, the “blood drip” of beads is a representation of it escaping. Yet her calm expression is her trying, and succeeding on just surviving through the internal battle.
Won the Distinguished Reputational Award, at the Open Sky Arts North East Art Exhibition 2023, in Chetwynd BC.


Like Fine China
Like Fine China is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Villainous Royalty
Villainous Royalty is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Single Line
Single Line is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Not a Paid Advertisement
Not a Paid Advertisement is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Self Care
"Self Care is What You Need to Shine Brighter Than Your Anxiety" is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.
Artist Statement:
My name is Samantha Wigglesworth, a local artist in Fort St John. This work is one that is very personal to me, not only because it is my first self portrait but because it is a representation of my struggles over the last few years. I am someone who suffers from poor mental health, specifically anxiety. Something that I wanted to represent in my self portrait as it is something that I feel I have finally tamed. The eyes in the background are a representation of the anxiety that always follows but as you can see from the pink glowing neon light, representing self care, it is less of an overpowering darkness. The goal is not to make them disappear entirely but to use self care to help lessen the anxiety in the day to day operation and to “shine brighter”.
The portrait itself is a reflection of the confidence I have established. I show this through an assured striking brush stroke which is a kind of painting style or technique that I have always admired as confident and statement making. Therefore I employed it as the boldest strokes I have used thus far in my career. I use this piece as a reflection of that fought for self-assuredness.
Artist Statement:
My name is Samantha Wigglesworth, a local artist in Fort St John. This work is one that is very personal to me, not only because it is my first self portrait but because it is a representation of my struggles over the last few years. I am someone who suffers from poor mental health, specifically anxiety. Something that I wanted to represent in my self portrait as it is something that I feel I have finally tamed. The eyes in the background are a representation of the anxiety that always follows but as you can see from the pink glowing neon light, representing self care, it is less of an overpowering darkness. The goal is not to make them disappear entirely but to use self care to help lessen the anxiety in the day to day operation and to “shine brighter”.
The portrait itself is a reflection of the confidence I have established. I show this through an assured striking brush stroke which is a kind of painting style or technique that I have always admired as confident and statement making. Therefore I employed it as the boldest strokes I have used thus far in my career. I use this piece as a reflection of that fought for self-assuredness.


Embroidered Tattoos
Embroidered Tattoos is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Glass Tears 2
Glass Tears 1 is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Glass Tears 1
Glass Tears 1 is a part of my Interrupting a Portrait series which focused on the idea of experimenting with different ways to interrupt a traditional portrait.


Prism
Prism is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Gaze
Gaze is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Bashful
Bashful is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Sultry
Sultry is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Faint
Faint is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Ambiguous
Ambiguous is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Daring
Daring is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Entranced
Entranced is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Modest
Modest is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.
Modest won the Distinguished Reputational Award, at the Open Sky Arts North East Art Exhibition 2022, in Tumbler Ridge BC.
Modest won the Distinguished Reputational Award, at the Open Sky Arts North East Art Exhibition 2022, in Tumbler Ridge BC.


Bold
Bold is part of my Spectrum series, created to show a small variety of what gender and sexualities can look like.


Pomarium
Pomarium is a depiction of hands gracefully yet dramatically holding an apple. To expand my knowledge on painting skin inspired by classic Renaissance artworks.


Expression
Expression is focused on realism, trying to really focus in on the details of the face and what makes the expression.


Authentic Joy
Authentic Joy is part of a pair of paintings, focusing on an everyday person.


Authenticity
Authenticity is part of a pair of paintings, focusing on an everyday person.


Magenta
Magenta is an technical experimentation with a bright monochromatic color scheme.


Vulnerably Visible - Student Work
For this 8 foot painting, I used a variety of different materials to achieve the effect of mixing painterly aspects with realism. The background and edges are done with vibrant blues and pinks. That is accompanied with matching coloured 3D elements of flowers and jewellery on top of the finished portraits, which are made with acrylic paint and pressed pigment eyeshadows on stretched canvas.
With this series, I wanted to present a trans male figure, by having the top surgery scars being very visible and for most, at eye level, but add stereotypically feminine accessories to him in order to make the audience question the gender role of the model.
I used a mixture of painterly and realistic approaches to these paintings to create further doubt for the viewer. I decided to choose this topic because I want to raise questions and awareness about the spectrum of gender. This starts with him being trans but it does not end there. By adding the “feminine” accessories I have broadened the scope of the conversation to one that involves androgyny and the fact that even though you are trans you can still be androgynous.
The following are quotes taken from an interview with the model about his thoughts and feelings towards the piece:
"Like a lot of trans people, I feel really self conscious about my body. When you're trans, there are a lot of expectations about how you're supposed to look and dress, so taking the photos and seeing the canvas was pretty nerve wracking. The more I saw it come together, the happier I was with how it looked. It was refreshing to have my real body represented, without changing any of how I look to fit traditional gender expectations. Seeing those scars up there makes me feel powerful. I've never felt powerful before."
With this series, I wanted to present a trans male figure, by having the top surgery scars being very visible and for most, at eye level, but add stereotypically feminine accessories to him in order to make the audience question the gender role of the model.
I used a mixture of painterly and realistic approaches to these paintings to create further doubt for the viewer. I decided to choose this topic because I want to raise questions and awareness about the spectrum of gender. This starts with him being trans but it does not end there. By adding the “feminine” accessories I have broadened the scope of the conversation to one that involves androgyny and the fact that even though you are trans you can still be androgynous.
The following are quotes taken from an interview with the model about his thoughts and feelings towards the piece:
"Like a lot of trans people, I feel really self conscious about my body. When you're trans, there are a lot of expectations about how you're supposed to look and dress, so taking the photos and seeing the canvas was pretty nerve wracking. The more I saw it come together, the happier I was with how it looked. It was refreshing to have my real body represented, without changing any of how I look to fit traditional gender expectations. Seeing those scars up there makes me feel powerful. I've never felt powerful before."


Pose 2
Pose 2 is from a 2 part series titled: Vulnerability in Expression.


Pose 1
Pose 1 is from a 2 part series titled: Vulnerability in Expression.
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