For as long as she can remember, Samantha Ross has been making art.
“I was always the art kid in school, whenever we had a project where we had to draw for it everyone would turn to look at me,” Ross said.
At an early age Ross began drawing, doodling and designing anywhere she could. With the full support of her parents, Ross began pursuing art where she could. Over one summer, just after fifth grade, Ross was enrolled in a county art program when she was first given the chance to experiment with photography. It was then that she “fell in love.”
“My teacher was like, “You have the eye for photography,’ and I was like, ‘Sure!’ and ran with it,” Ross said.
Ross later began college at Winthrop to study photography. After her beginning foundation courses, she took a class on photo media studies that reaffirmed her passion for photography. Initially Ross was focused in on commercial photography but has recently been exploring what type of photography she prefers more. Ross believes change, as an artist is vital. Throughout the different styles of photography Ross has tried, the singular theme on connectivity lingers.
“I keep coming back to this concept of friendship or how people are connected,” Ross said. “You may not know someone personally, but there’s still some way you’re connected to them.”
Ross spent last spring in New Zealand studying her art and traveling the island. Much like her drawing and art, Ross has always had the desire to travel.
“I went to New Zealand because I really didn’t know where I wanted my work to go, or what I was doing so I kind of went to find myself,” Ross said.
In a sense it worked, Ross came back feeling more confident in herself and her art. She also created a work of art that is now one of her proudest accomplishments. It began with an assignment focused on archiving. At first Ross was stumped. So she turned to the friends she had made. Ross gave a few of her international friends large jars and asked them to fill them with objects they had collected from their time in New Zealand.
“These jars are encapsulate the people, their memories, and their time here,” Ross said.
Ross intended to lay the contents of each jar flat and photograph the scene. However, when it came time for her to do so, it “didn’t feel right.” The jars became a piece by themselves. This resulted in an over five foot tall photographic collection detailing these jars and their contents.
Back at Winthrop this semester, Ross was encouraged to submit some of her work to a gallery that was to be judged by the president of the Bechtler museum in Charlotte. Ross was shocked to be chosen.
“I feel like I have low expectations of my work, and I probably shouldn’t,” Ross said.
Ross’ work is currently on display in the student galleries on the third floor of the McLaurin building. She continues to work on her photography style and looks to expand into sculptures or 3D additions to her photos. In addition, Ross’ work as a photographer for The Johnsonian is often featured in this publication.
“I feel like there’s always more that you can learn, and I just want to keep going and keep exploring and not stay in my comfortable bubble, even though I love it,” Ross said
