Sam Chamberlain |
Biography
Sam at 6 months, by Diane Arbus
This year Sam’s art has been featured in two group shows, both organised by the curator Flora Fairbairn, noted for her interest in discovering new talent. There have also been sales to some serious collectors. Most recently Sam has had a solo show at the Subway gallery in London
Sam Chamberlain was born in New York City, son of Wynn and Sally Chamberlain, and twin brother of Sara Chamberlain. In 1970 the Chamberlains left New York and spent the next 5 years traveling in India and sitting with various Indian wisdom teachers and ascetics.
In 1975 they returned to America, built a house in the Mendocino wilderness where they lived austerely and put into practice many of the techniques they had learned in India. In 1983 the family returned to India where the twins attended Woodstock International School in Mussoorie.
Returning to America once again in 1986, Sam attended Middlebury College in Vermont where he majored in fine arts and history, spent his junior year abroad at Worcester College, Oxford and, after graduating, worked as an intern for Francesco Clemente, for his book company Hanuman books, and as a care person for Andy Warhol’s assistant Fred Hughes. During these years he continued to paint.
In 1997 following a serious accident in which he was hit by a speeding car on Houston Street in Soho, Manhattan, Sam was transferred to a bone clinic in Oxford for rehab and to be near his family during his convalescence. During this period he managed to complete a master’s degree in Computer Science from the the University of London.
Living in Oxford, then in London, he has continued to produce art
"Sam Chamberlain was born in March 1968, and I was with him at Woodstock Festival in August 1969. The colors and primal duality of his paintings are a splendid play of mind"
- John Giorno - New York - 2009