Sam Simeone's Story
FROM THE BEGINNING
Sam Simeone is a Montreal-born artist of Italian descent. While his early education revealed an aptitude for mathematics and science, an interest in classical music and history ignited his artistic spirit. Alongside his scholastic endeavours, he embarked on entrepreneurial ventures, becoming a savvy owner and manager of successful nightclubs, bars and restaurants in Montreal, Toronto and Miami.
the academic road
Simeone's academic pursuits led him to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering, marking the beginning of a successful career in property development and in the aerospace industry. Despite the demands of his professional life, Simeone's unrelenting passion for artistic expression never waned, demonstrating a remarkable predisposition for creativity, whether in building design during his property development, conceptualizing innovative nightclubs and restaurants or project engineering for the likes of Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Pratt & Whitney and Delta Airlines.
His artistic life
Early on, he developed a distinctive concept of informal art, embracing the simplicity of everyday materials such as plain printer paper, felt tip pens, ribbon and brush white-out, often employing his own fingers as tools of expression. Later, he moved to acrylics and oils. His first drawing/painting was created using printing paper, permanent markers and his daughter's leftover paint and crayons from the catch-all kitchen drawer, showcasing his ingenuity and uninhibited approach to art-making.
Simeone's artistic style is marked by its raw and somewhat primal nature, displaying a powerful expression of thought-provoking themes. His artwork stands out for its unique vision and perspective, captivating viewers with an evocative portrayal of the human experience and the unveiling of profound truths. Sam Simeone's journey as an artist is a testament to his unwavering passion for artistic expression and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic mediums and styles, leaving an indelible mark on the art world as an emerging contemporary artist.
His Body of Work
An acutely articulate depiction of what one endures, has the capacity to endure, makes and is made to endure persists in Simeone's work as he paints these arrangements, highlighting the humanization of subjugated individuals. The artist embraces imperfections and deviations from reality to convey the genuine emotions he perceives in his subjects. Spontaneity is vital to his artistic process, elevating figurative representation to the realm of emotional and psychological exploration by adding depth, emotion, and complexity to his drawings. Intentional yet free-flowing shapes challenge the conventional ideas of portraiture, blurring the lines between reality and imagination by abstracting and morphing facial features.
Simeone's dynamic markings are purposefully expressive, creating a sense of energy and movement on the paper. One of the most striking elements of his work is the depiction of misaligned, cloudy, and sometimes psychedelic eyes, which create a dynamic tension on his work mediums. Thus, offering a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of human existence. His unsettling portrayal of dichotomous identities creates a raw visual language that challenges the traditional norms of drawing and painting, inviting the viewers to question their perceptions of reality.
Simeone's style is characterized by colourful, geometric, and organic patterns that depict the true face of humanity. The series, Facies Veritas, draws inspiration from intriguing characters Simeone encountered as a nightclub, bar, and restaurant owner, capturing the illusory facade presented by his patrons. His perception is, at times, haunting, reflecting the mental and physical experiences, some traumatic that individuals may carry. Through his art, he draws attention to the dehumanizing effects of societal norms. He describes his artistic process as starting with a mundane doodle that eventually expands into a raw, visceral truth, revealing the authenticity of a subject.
Simeone’s artwork engages the viewer in a visceral and compelling conversation about the complexities of identity, emotions, and reality. His artistic journey is one of self-discovery and liberation, as he defies aesthetic conventions and incarnates his cerebral visions onto paper, embracing the truth as he perceives it. His unique artistic vision creates a visual narrative that questions our preconceived notions of reality.
An unique approach to art
Simeone's work is a testament to the power of art to provoke, challenge, and inspire. With his skillful use of colour, abstraction, and expressive brushwork.