SAMANTHA
VAN HEEST
“Utilizing still life, found objects, and the human figure, my work explores the complexities of recollecting the past while recognizing the fallible nature of memory.”
A Slip of the Peel, 2023
48” x 36”, Acrylic and oil on canvas $2,225, purchase here
Ritual Composition #1, 2023
11” x 14”, Gouache on canvas $350, purchase here
Kosher Dill Pickles, 2023
8” x 10”, Acrylic and oil on canvas $500, purchase here
Ritual Composition #4, 2023
11” x 14”, Gouache on canvas $350, purchase here
Ritual Quilts, 2023
24” x 36” ea, Quilted cotton blend $300 ea (750 all), purchase here
Ritual Composition #5, 2023
11” x 14”, Gouache on canvas $350, purchase here
Ritual Study, 2023
8” x 9”, Oil on canvas $500, purchase here
TRYST
ON DISPLAY AT
DC’S COMMUNAL LIVING ROOM. WE REFLECT THE ECLECTICISM OF OUR NATION’S CAPITAL BY REDEFINING AMERICAS CAFE CULTURE.
Tryst is known for having huge lounging sofas, eclectic art on the walls, with no corporate coffee and no matching silverware. You can stop by for a quick cup on your way to work, or you can lounge all day with a great book. Their specialty coffees and menus are favorites for regulars and tourists, and they’re famous for always serving two animal crackers with each drink. Tryst builds meaningful connections, one animal cracker at a time.
FROM THE ARTIST
Utilizing still life, found objects, and the human figure, my work explores the complexities of recollecting the past while recognizing the fallible nature of memory. To soothe the fear of not remembering, I turn to collecting and preserving. I focus on select objects, particularly domestic findings: household items, toys, and textiles. My objects are actors for something more sensual, childish, or uncomfortable. I dissect the experience of girlhood, aiming to deconstruct childhood memories while longing for a polished preservation of the past. Secrecy between myself and the audience is intentional, hiding trauma, sexual innuendos, and personal relationship dynamics in plain sight.
ABOUT SAMANTHA VAN HEEST
Samantha Van Heest (b. 1998) is an artist and art educator currently residing in the greater Washington DC area. She has exhibited her work across the United States and Europe. Her debut solo exhibition, DEEP/CLEAN, opened February 2023 at HOMME Gallery in Washington, DC. Samantha has been included in various group show at spaces such as UMBRELLA Art Fair (Washington DC); Hamiltonian Artists (Washington DC); Magma Maria (Offenbach am Main, Germany); McNeese State University (Lake Charles, LA); The University of Maryland (College Park, MD); among others. She was featured in New American Paintings South #148 and has worked for the contemporary painter Amy Sherald. She is a member of the 2024 Sparkplug Collective at DC Arts Center (Washington DC). She teaches art in the Greater Washington DC area with a focus in drawing, painting, and portfolio development. Van Heest earned a BA in Studio Art from the University of Mary Washington in 2020.