Sam Branden
Sam Branden (born 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a painter based in Brooklyn, New York, whose work explores the intersection of natural and urban environments through layered, fabric-based compositions. Drawing from his Midwestern upbringing and his immersion in the subcultures of New York City, Branden transforms everyday visual experiences into dynamic and tactile collages. His process begins with spontaneous moments that catch his eye, such as unusual color pairings, textures, and street-level juxtapositions, which he translates into compositions built from painted canvas, found clothing, and neighborhood detritus. These elements are sewn together by hand, resulting in dense and stitched surfaces that evoke both personal memory and the visual noise of contemporary life.
Branden’s work is shaped by a sensitivity to material and environment. Discarded objects from his surroundings, including unclaimed items, bits of signage, and textiles, are integrated into his paintings as both formal components and markers of place. His use of mesh spandex introduces a sense of movement and distortion, adding an optical layer that echoes the synthetic and overstimulated quality of modern living. Threaded seams and bold color shifts act like street maps, charting a terrain that is improvised, shifting, and emotionally charged. Branden's paintings are not just images, they are environments, constructed and reactive, filled with the energy of the city that inspires them.
Sam Branden lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design in 2014. Solo exhibitions include CHART, New York, NY (2024), Stowaway Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2023), Beverly’s, New York, NY (2021), and the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH (2019). Group exhibitions include CHART, New York, NY (2024), Untitled Art Fair with CHART, Miami, FL (2024), Harper’s Gallery, New York, NY (2024), darkZone, NJ (2021); PRP Agency, Dallas, TX (2021), Pangeé, Montréal, QC (2019); and Bible Gallery, New York, NY (2019). Branden was included in “Who’s Who?” New York City edition (sponsored by Puma and Newco Studio, 2023), a hard backed publication highlighting 75 notable creatives in the downtown Manhattan art scene.
