Artist Biography
Samuel Xun (b. 1994, Singapore) is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Singapore. His practice is centered around the exploration of queer identity, self-therapy, and introspection through sculpture, context-based installation, and textile composition. His works delve into the complex interplay of emotionality and aesthetics in identity-building, often expressed through works that examine cultural and personal symbols, frequently inspired by film, philosophy, cultural milieu, and personal narrative.
Samuel's oeuvre harbours a nuanced approach to subject matter and is marked by a meticulous and deeply entrenched relationship with materials. His creative process is labour-intensive and also serves as a meditative exercise to reflect on realities from the past and present. His signature ornamentation of surfaces and use of vibrant palettes across his body of work position the use of color, texture, and text as a means to convey humanistic responses to societal discourse. Often taking the form of intricate and abstract visual systems that are open-ended in nature, his works solicit introspection and contemplation, inviting us to re-evaluate the narratives we construct for ourselves and the impact they have on our social condition.
Ultimately, Samuel is interested in how art can provide catharsis, facilitate empathy, preserve culture, and foster better interaction within and across different groups of society. He is a graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts, holding a BA in Fashion Design & Textiles. He has exhibited in Singapore and internationally in cities like New York and Chiang Mai. His works are also part of the collections of three ASEAN institutions and, most recently, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group collection. His recent exhibitions include participation in ART SG 2023 with Richard Koh Fine Arts, and group exhibitions "We Keep Going Around in Circles" at Supper House, Singapore, "Serving Thots" at UltraSuperNew Gallery, Singapore, and "Nature & Now: Asian Art in Focus" at Friedrichs Pontone, New York. Samuel and his work have also been extensively published and featured in publications such as Thai Post, South China Morning Post, VOGUE Singapore, The Straits Times, ELLE Singapore, Female, L’OFFICIEL, Nüyou (女友), and Mensfolio.
︎ studio@samuelxun.com
Solo Exhibitions
2023 The Gift That Keeps on Giving - Sundry, Bangkok (Upcoming)
2022 I’m Exhausted, Where is He? - Art & Market, Art Agenda, Singapore
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 ASEAN ON PAPER - ASEAN Culture House, Busan
2023 We Keep Going Around in Circles and We Never Know Why - Supper House, Singapore
2023 Tribeca Summer Show - Friedrichs Pontone, New York
2023 KONNECT ASEAN Chiang Mai Print Residency - Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre, Chiang Mai
2023 七彩世界 - The Supper House, Singapore
2023 Serving Thots - UltraSuperNew Gallery, Singapore
2023 Diverse Visions - Richard Koh Fine Arts, Singapore
2023 Nature & Now: Asian Art in Focus - Friedrichs Pontone, New York
2023 ART SG 2023: NEW/NOW - with Richard Koh Fine Arts, Marina Bay Sands Expo, Singapore
2023 There Are Flowers in the Morning Mist - SAW23, Supper House, Singapore
2022 State of Play - Richard Koh Fine Arts, Singapore
2022 The World Is Flat After All - Supper House, Singapore
2022 Veneer & Visage - The Supper House, Singapore
2022 It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, you would cry too if it happened to you - SAW23, The Projector, Singapore
2021 Dress/Address - Grey Projects, Singapore
2021 only losers left alive (love songs for the end of the world) - Yeo Workshop, Singapore
2021 Creative Unions - SAW21, Funan, Singapore
2020 The Foot Beneath the Flower - NTU ADM Gallery, Singapore
Artist Residencies
2023 KONNECT ASEAN Print Residency - ASEAN Foundation, Chiang Mai
Private/Public Collections
ASEAN Foundation (Jakarta)
ASEAN Cultural Centre (Bangkok)
ASEAN Culture House (Busan)
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Press/Publications
2023 Harper’s Bazaar Singapore - (Digital Cover) Art & Soul Issue; Three Emerging Singaporean Artists On Making Work With Meaning And Intent
2023 Plural Art Mag - A little sparkle never hurt anyone: A Conversation with emerging artist Samuel Xun
2023 FEMALE Singapore - Things To Do In Singapore: Exhibitions That Explore Queer Narratives & More
2023 South China Morning Post - How Singapore’s art scene is making a big comeback in 2023
2023 Plural Art Mag - Team Plural Art Mag Reflects on SAW23
2022 Art Basel - Six gallery exhibitions to see during Singapore Art Week
2022 The Straits Times - Arts Picks: 29 Singapore artists in 3 group exhibitions show new work
2022 The Straits Times - Singapore Art Week everywhere - in hawker centres and even in toilets
2021 VOGUE Singapore - From Rachael Cheong to Samuel Xun, this fashion and art exhibition is spotlighting the local creatives to know
2021 L’OFFICIEL Singapore - Art & Soul
2021 VOGUE Singapore - Drag queen Salome Blaque & designer Samuel Xun come together for a moment in local fashion
2020 ELLE Singapore - ELLE Perspectives: Between the Seams
2020 NUYOU Singapore - Risk Takers
2020 Female Singapore - The Academy Awards