Normally a concise biography would suffice for an artist who had recently left the academy. Sam Andrea’s biography (Amsterdam, 1991) would probably list that he graduated from the Royal Academy of Arts in 2018 and learned to draw with artist Frans Franciscus before that.
No matter how recently Andrea graduated, such a biography does not do him justice. To begin with, Andrea was the only one of his class who worked with a brush on canvas and was consequently labelled a romantic anachronism by his teachers. For Andrea, however, working with a brush on a canvas is a necessary mental and physical battle. "If it wasn't a fight, it wouldn't be interesting either."
This attitude is typical of Andrea's worldview: he detests neo-liberalism and advancing gentrification of Amsterdam, nor is Andrea particularly happy with stylized Instagram posts or polished internet art. According to Andrea we have lost contact with ourselves because of that cleanliness and it is important to accept our ugly, dark side to find ourselves and to see what is beautiful. That dark side consists of self-destruction, violence and sex. It is these primal instincts that have a prominent place in Andrea's work.
Although Andrea's work is figurative and interspersed with autobiographical elements, his worldview, which has been boned to primal instincts, gives his work an almost physical charge with universal recognisability. To get to that core, Andrea, often together with his muse, half-uncle and stuntman Jef, consciously or unconsciously seeks out extreme situations, which tend to be on the fringes of society. For his work, Andrea draws from car accidents and wassails and from the boxing and sex parties that he organizes under the title Sexy Violence.
No matter how recently Andrea graduated, such a biography does not do him justice. To begin with, Andrea was the only one of his class who worked with a brush on canvas and was consequently labelled a romantic anachronism by his teachers. For Andrea, however, working with a brush on a canvas is a necessary mental and physical battle. "If it wasn't a fight, it wouldn't be interesting either."
This attitude is typical of Andrea's worldview: he detests neo-liberalism and advancing gentrification of Amsterdam, nor is Andrea particularly happy with stylized Instagram posts or polished internet art. According to Andrea we have lost contact with ourselves because of that cleanliness and it is important to accept our ugly, dark side to find ourselves and to see what is beautiful. That dark side consists of self-destruction, violence and sex. It is these primal instincts that have a prominent place in Andrea's work.
Although Andrea's work is figurative and interspersed with autobiographical elements, his worldview, which has been boned to primal instincts, gives his work an almost physical charge with universal recognisability. To get to that core, Andrea, often together with his muse, half-uncle and stuntman Jef, consciously or unconsciously seeks out extreme situations, which tend to be on the fringes of society. For his work, Andrea draws from car accidents and wassails and from the boxing and sex parties that he organizes under the title Sexy Violence.
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Sam Andrea's work has not gone unnoticed. In the year that he graduated, 2018, his work was shown at Galerie Vriend van Bavink and he was nominated for the Piket Kunstprijs. In the jury report, Suzanne Swarts, director of Museum Voorlinden, described Andrea as: “A true painter. Someone who likes nothing better than painting”. Swarts adds: “He tells a story that appeals to everyone's imagination. It is really about being human, while showing the most diverse emotions and passions open and exposed.”
This summer Andrea had an exhibition at the former art history institute of the University of Amsterdam, where he presented work he had made during his stay at Lab Kalkhorst, a castle that serves as an artist retreat in eastern Germany.
In 2020 Andrea wants to work in Los Angeles for a while. His main reason is that the US is currently an interesting place politically and socially, but also because it is a large market for arts. In an interview Andrea added: “I don't paint for myself. I want my work to be seen by many people”.
This summer Andrea had an exhibition at the former art history institute of the University of Amsterdam, where he presented work he had made during his stay at Lab Kalkhorst, a castle that serves as an artist retreat in eastern Germany.
In 2020 Andrea wants to work in Los Angeles for a while. His main reason is that the US is currently an interesting place politically and socially, but also because it is a large market for arts. In an interview Andrea added: “I don't paint for myself. I want my work to be seen by many people”.
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Educatie
Bachelor Fine Arts , Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende kunsten Den Haag, 2018
Nominatie Piket kunstprijs, schilderkunst , 2018
Exposities
2019
Avro Opium Atelier residentie - Hilversum
Solo expositie SAM ANDREA - Herengracht 286 Vriend van Bavink - Amsterdam
Lab Kalkhorst residence - Kalkhorst Duitsland
2018
This Art Fair , Beurs van Berlage , galerie Vriend van Bavink
De Andrea Show met Jef Andrea -Jim Mooijekind- Galerie De Vlieg, Haarlem
Sexy Violence -Sexyland- Lowlands
Black Line by Gianna Tomiyama -Bureau Degrade- Den Haag
Naked live action painting with Loeke Gerritsen -Classical Music Rave- Bijloke -Gent
The Living Museum live action painting -South by Southwest -Austin Texas
Sexy Violence -best of Sexy Land -Amsterdam
2017
Nokia's Tag Line -MOOF- Den Haag
Halfway Where -Grey Space in the Middle -Den Haag
My collection: Barbara van Ittersum - Arti et Amicitiae -Amsterdam
Lab 111 - Amsterdam
Sexy Violence -Last Night on Earth- de Besturing -Den Haag
Sexy Violence - Sexy Land -Amsterdam
2016
Fleur & Wouter gallerie -Amsterdam
LFTFLD groeps expositie -under your skin -Amsterdam
De Zeven Zonden -Kriterion- Amsterdam
Sexy Violence -Mega Flikker -Amsterdam
2015
Lancering van satirisch tijdschrift ANUS groepsexpositie KYAS ART SALON – Amsterdam
Family Matters -Pulchri Studio- Den Haag
Horror Vacui -Jim Mooijekind- Den Haag
2014
The Living Museum -Gianna Tomiyama- Amsterdam
Live painting -Eddie the Eagle Museum - Time capsule - Amsterdam
Leidseplein Pop Up Show- Amsterdam
2013
Sam & Jimba Smaksteeg experience -Amsterdam
LFTFLD Art show -'' GESPUIS'' Slangenpand - Amsterdam
LFTFLD art show Carte Blanche -Amsterdam
Carlton Arms assisting Frans Franciscus -New York
2011
Art Attack group show -Plantage Dok- Amsterdam
Eddie the Eagle Museum -Mural- Amsterdam
2010
Art and Design group show - Trouw - Amsterdam
Group show -Phoenix 13- Haarlem
Bachelor Fine Arts , Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende kunsten Den Haag, 2018
Nominatie Piket kunstprijs, schilderkunst , 2018
Exposities
2019
Avro Opium Atelier residentie - Hilversum
Solo expositie SAM ANDREA - Herengracht 286 Vriend van Bavink - Amsterdam
Lab Kalkhorst residence - Kalkhorst Duitsland
2018
This Art Fair , Beurs van Berlage , galerie Vriend van Bavink
De Andrea Show met Jef Andrea -Jim Mooijekind- Galerie De Vlieg, Haarlem
Sexy Violence -Sexyland- Lowlands
Black Line by Gianna Tomiyama -Bureau Degrade- Den Haag
Naked live action painting with Loeke Gerritsen -Classical Music Rave- Bijloke -Gent
The Living Museum live action painting -South by Southwest -Austin Texas
Sexy Violence -best of Sexy Land -Amsterdam
2017
Nokia's Tag Line -MOOF- Den Haag
Halfway Where -Grey Space in the Middle -Den Haag
My collection: Barbara van Ittersum - Arti et Amicitiae -Amsterdam
Lab 111 - Amsterdam
Sexy Violence -Last Night on Earth- de Besturing -Den Haag
Sexy Violence - Sexy Land -Amsterdam
2016
Fleur & Wouter gallerie -Amsterdam
LFTFLD groeps expositie -under your skin -Amsterdam
De Zeven Zonden -Kriterion- Amsterdam
Sexy Violence -Mega Flikker -Amsterdam
2015
Lancering van satirisch tijdschrift ANUS groepsexpositie KYAS ART SALON – Amsterdam
Family Matters -Pulchri Studio- Den Haag
Horror Vacui -Jim Mooijekind- Den Haag
2014
The Living Museum -Gianna Tomiyama- Amsterdam
Live painting -Eddie the Eagle Museum - Time capsule - Amsterdam
Leidseplein Pop Up Show- Amsterdam
2013
Sam & Jimba Smaksteeg experience -Amsterdam
LFTFLD Art show -'' GESPUIS'' Slangenpand - Amsterdam
LFTFLD art show Carte Blanche -Amsterdam
Carlton Arms assisting Frans Franciscus -New York
2011
Art Attack group show -Plantage Dok- Amsterdam
Eddie the Eagle Museum -Mural- Amsterdam
2010
Art and Design group show - Trouw - Amsterdam
Group show -Phoenix 13- Haarlem
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