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Alumnus/Alumna profile

Sampson McFerrin

BFA Print Media 24
Works as an artistic director and event manager

Sampson McFerrin
Faculty

Faculty of Fine Arts

Program

Print Media (BFA)

While traditional galleries continue to play an important role, I'm excited to see more exhibitions being organized by emerging artists themselves.

Career questions with Sampson

What do you love most about your work, and what inspired you to pursue this career in the first place? 

I love working with other artists. While I have always been a passionate artist, I never imagined pursuing a career as a professional artist myself. Instead, I see myself more as an entrepreneur, and I find inspiration in organizing artistic events and helping creative ideas come to fruition. My own artistic practice gives me a deeper understanding of the creative process while also serving as a personal creative outlet.

Looking back, what skills have been the biggest gamechangers in your career? 

One of the most meaningful skills I have developed in my career is the ability to listen and communicate with others. I developed these skills through the critiques in my studio classes at Concordia, where I appreciated hearing artists explain their creative process, inspiration, and personal motivations for work I was curious about or didn't fully understand.

Alongside this, I took a negotiation and conflict resolution class at the John Molson School of Business, where in-class negotiations, projects and case studies taught me the importance of understanding others' needs when conducting business and building relationships. Those lessons continue to help me work with artists, galleries and arts organizations every day.

How did Concordia prepare you for your career? 

Concordia provided structure through seasonal classes, monthly critiques and meaningful evaluations that taught me how to set goals and work toward achieving them. The print media studios gave me the space to truly experiment and immerse myself in every step of the printmaking process—from mixing ink and preparing paper to setting the pressure on a printing press.

What is a standout memory from your time at Concordia? 

One of my standout memories from Concordia is meeting one of my best friends on the bike ride home from campus. On a rainy ride home one afternoon, we realized we were heading in the same direction. "Which way are you going?" – "Down Sherbrooke!" "To which neighbourhood?" – "The Plateau!" "Which street?" – "Coloniale!" It turned out we lived right across the street from each other. From then on, we began biking to and from class together and became close friends. 

That friendship grew far beyond our time at Concordia. Together, we organized art shows, screen-printed t-shirts, cycled across the Maritimes and created some of my most memorable cultural events in Montreal, including Plateausheaga, a house-concert-style music festival held across three Plateau apartments.  

If you could give your younger self one powerful piece of advice, what would it be? 

Get involved with clubs, go to art shows, and say yes to the random events people put posters up for. Whether it's the abundance of artists, venues, galleries, theatres, or festivals, there's never a dull moment. I only wish I had gotten involved with the organizations that create those opportunities a little earlier.

What’s the most exciting shift happening in your industry right now? 

The shift towards more underground and artist-led exhibitions is really exciting for me to see. While traditional galleries continue to play an important role, I'm excited to see more exhibitions being organized by emerging artists themselves. I find the communities around these shows to be incredibly welcoming, supportive, and open-minded. Those exhibitions continue to inspire me to work with emerging artists and help them professionalize their careers.

Feeling inspired?

 
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