Statement
Through paint and collage, I investigate and expose truth in current and historical events. I examine the transmission and dissemination of information and the ways in which we are distracted from important issues. We are subject to the constant and sophisticated manipulation of reality and the exclusion of significant topics by the news media. Using their power and influence, these agencies control whose voices are heard and the ways our stories are framed.
I document and uncover narratives of the marginalized and underrepresented. These points of view comprise our collective experience of fact and fiction. Revealing the truth of these stories becomes a way of looking at our past as we build for future generations.
I work intently, building layer upon layer of images, text, visual information, found objects and acrylic paint. Carefully selected images compose my work along with metal, wire, bits of plastic, mesh, tags, product packaging and other castoff items from my collection of found materials.
Curriculum Vitae
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITS
2023
Sam Marroquin: Dwell, The East Oregonian Gallery, Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, OR, organized by Roberta Lavadour and Journey Hahn, May 4 - 27.
2020
The Uttered and the Unspoken, exhibit and interactive installation as sculpture students respond to Marroquin’s artwork, Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA, curated by Tom O’Day, February 18 - March 18
2019
Sam Marroquin, smART stART, Global Social Media Broadcast, curated by Cheryl McGinnis Projects, New York, NY, January 30
Journeys of Hope, Clackamas Community College, Harmony Campus, Harmony Gallery, Milwaukie, OR, January 7 - March 23
2018
Consciousness and Control, North Portland Library, Portland, OR, curated by Jay Cunningham, November 3- 30.
Social Conscience, Art Department Chairs Gallery, Center for the Visual Arts, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR, curated by Paige Gerhard and Madeleine Farmer, September 27 - October 27
2017
Beyond the Climate, Civic Center, City Council Chambers, Hillsboro, OR, curated by Briddie Harrington and Stephanie Adams-Santos, November 1 - January 31, 2018
2016
Letters and Words in Art, Three Creeks Library, central reading room,
Vancouver, WA, curated by Andrew Parsons, April 22 - May 21
2015
A Location Near You, Mixed Media by Sam Marroquin, Fireside Gallery,
Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR, February 3 - 26
Subtleties of Society: Objects and Images in Wax, Hokusei Sushi, Portland OR, curated by Phyllis Auger, November 11 - February 8, 2016
2002
Surroundings: Linotype Landscape Prints, Spokane Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre, Spokane, WA, January 6 - February 23
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITS
2025
Seeking Warmth, Art at the Cave Gallery, Vancouver, WA, curated by Sharon Svec, with Ceija Stojka, and Daniel Baker, exploring humanity's need for emotional and physical warmth during times of genocide, war, oppression and neglect, March 7 - 29
Not to be sold loose, Portland State University, Littman and White Galleries, Portland, OR, curated by Simeen Anjum, with Ketzia Schoneberg, Khytul Abyad, and Lou Blumberg, January 27 - April 4
Reframing and Reconsidering the Classical, Cheryl McGinnis Projects, New York, NY, with Zhang Hongtu, Emma Amos, Adolph Gottlieb, Shi-Jia Chen, Heidi Lanino, and Jamie Ballay, February 7 - 28
2024
Precipice, Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro, OR with Tyler Brumfield, Kit Carlton, and Ken Hochfeld, curated by Karl LeClair and Emmi Stonier, August 6 - September 13
2023
Viral Integration, University of California, Irvine, Health Sciences Building, Irvine, CA, curated by elin o'Hara slavick, December 21 - December 10, 2024
Texting, Artsy exhibit presented by Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, curated by Robert Langdon, NY, November 1 - 30, 2023
In Solidarity, University of Washington, Fine Arts Department Gallery II, Pullman, WA, August 11 - September 14
2022
We The People, exploring American identity, Puffin Cultural Forum, Teaneck, NJ, curated by Andrew Lee, March 1 - 31
2021
The earth is blue like an orange. Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY, accompanying Artsy exhibit, with Sally Apfelbaum and Susan M. Gibbons, November 10 - December 15
Voices and Visions, a collaborative exhibition between visual artists and poets, The Gray Space Gallery, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Vancouver, WA, with Christopher Luna and Ann Bauer, November 1 - December 31
The Preview Exhibit: Clark County Open Studios, Art at the Cave Gallery, curated by Anne John, Vancouver, WA, October 28 - November 28
Footprints: Art Without Borders, Kempton Hall Gallery, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Church, part of a Seven Churches Seven Galleries coordinated exhibit under the theme Footprints: Immigration and Migration, Portland, OR, September 19 - November 7
When I pronounce the word silence, I destroy it. Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY, with Elizabeth Riley and Arleen Joseph, September 15 - October 29
Time Passes. Memory Fades. Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY, accompanying Artsy exhibit, with Karen Schiff and Gerri Rachins, June 2 - 30
the one who best understands the significance of light. Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY, accompanying Artsy exhibit, with Linda Stillman and KiP Walker, May 5 - 31
Piecing it Together, The Corridor Gallery, Esther Building, curated by Sharon Svec, Vancouver, WA, April 19 - June 19
All The Notes Are There Already, Jason McCoy Gallery, New York, NY, with Aga Ousseinov, April 7 - 30
All About Love, Art at the Cave Gallery, curated by Anne John, Vancouver, WA, February 3 - 27
2020
The Six and the Summer That Was. smART stART, Global Social Media Broadcast curated by Cheryl McGinnis Projects, New York, NY, with Diana Lehr, September 11
Threshold, The Chase Gallery, Spokane City Hall, Spokane, WA, with Mariah Boyle, Laura Ahola-Young, Sally Machlis and Delphin Keim, July 1 - August 28
The Art of the Quarantine, Art at the Cave Gallery, Vancouver, WA, curated by Anne John, June 6 - August 31
Sensitive Materials, WSU Tri-Cities, Richland, WA, curated by Sena Clara Creston, March 6 - April 9
2019
In the Blink of an Eye, Clackamas Community College, Wilsonville Campus, Wilsonville, OR, with David Cordes, curated by Sam Marroquin, September 23 - December 6
17th Annual Juried Local Art Exhibition, Tacoma Community College, The Art Gallery, Tacoma, WA, curated by Jennifer Olson, Ph.D., June 24 - August 9
Spring Art Exhibit, Clark College, Economic & Community Development Bldg., Vancouver, WA, April 8 - June 14
2018
Shelton Rotating Gallery Exhibit, with Fiona McCargo, Koa Tom, and Leslie Atkins, Shelton Civic Center, Shelton WA, curated by Jordanne Krumplos, Dec. 4 - February 28, 2019
Migration Stories, juried multimedia group show in conjunction with World Refugee Day, Multnomah Arts Center Gallery, Portland, OR, curated by Nicole Rawlins, June 1 - July 2
Who Owns America?, smART stART, Global Social Media Broadcast, curated by Cheryl McGinnis Projects, New York, NY, with Francisco Goya and Michael Murphy, February 16
2017
Fake News, smART stART, Global Social Media Broadcast, curated by Cheryl McGinnis Projects, New York, NY, with Jessica Houston, October 13
A Chair, The Museum of Non-Visible Art, Biennial of Non-Visible Art 2017, a museum without walls showcasing art that can only be seen with the minds-eye, Twitter exhibit, #monabiennial #monausa, with Brainard Carey, May 8 - June 11
2016
Giant Birds, Lovely Layers, City Hall, conference rooms, Vancouver, WA, curated by Erin Dengerink, with Jo Hockinhull, April 1- May 31
Art Speaks Out, a dialogue about uncomfortable subjects, from environmental to presidential, Mel’s Frame Shop, Portland, OR, curated by Mel Townsend, September 1 - October 31
The Art of Politics, a special presidential election year exhibition, North Bank Gallery, Vancouver WA, curated by Sharri LaPierre and Chrissie Forbes, October 7 - 29
Laika: A Dog’s Short Journey into Space, Beaverton Chalk Draw, live drawing exhibition, part of Beaverton Arts Mix, Beaverton, OR, October 8
Artist Trust Benefit Auction, annual gala fundraiser to support artists, charitable donation, Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle, WA (Catalog), curated by Lele Barnett and Jennifer Navva Milliken, February 27
2015
David Cordes and Sam Marroquin, Rose Center for the Arts, Lower Columbia Community College, with David Cordes, Longview, WA, curated by Dianne Bartlett, September 23 - October 15
Ethos, Pathos, Logos, National Juried show, Gallery 114, Portland, OR June 4 - 27
Particles on the Wall, multi-disciplinary exhibit that explores elements of the nuclear age and in particular the world wide implications of the Hanford WA nuclear site, Maxey Museum, Whitman College, Main Exhibition Hall, Walla Walla, WA, April 2 - May 9
2013
Playing with a Full Deck, mail art collaboration with over 247 participating artists and more than 2063 playing cards, Gallery 6, Portland, OR, with Liz Cohn, August 2 - September 29
2004
No Moose Left Behind, Excell Foundation, selected to design a tabletop
moose for charitable auction to benefit Coeur d’ Alene Schools, Coeur d’ Alene, ID, May
2002
Stirring Scenery: Linotype Landscape Prints, Northwest Museum of Art and
Culture, exhibit in gift shop, Spokane, WA, September 1 - December 31
Raw Space, community art exhibit, Spokane, WA, February 2 - 28
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
University of California Irvine, School of Public Health / College of Health Sciences Art Collection, Irvine, California
Spokane Portable Works Collection, Central Public Library, Business Lab Center, Spokane, Washington
Tacoma Community College, State Art Collection, Tacoma, Washington
EDUCATION
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, Master of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Art and Graphic Communication
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Art
Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane, WA, Associates of Arts in Fine Art
TEACHING
Art Instructor, ArtLookLearn.com, teaching art skills and techniques, online and private classes, September 2020 - present
Art Instructor, Clark College, Continuing Education, instruct art classes and workshops, Vancouver, WA, March 2019
Art Teacher, adult art classes, trained art teachers in art and art education and taught kindergarten - fifth-grade art classes, Art Discovery School Coordinator, Evergreen School District, Vancouver, WA, 2011 - 2017
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Artist delves into the experience of the ‘marginalized and underrepresented.’ East Oregonian, EO Media Group, Pendleton, Oregon. p A8. 147th Year, No.83. Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
Artist delves into 'marginalized and underrepresented.’ East Oregonian, EO Media Group, Pendleton, Oregon. https://www.eastoregonian.com/community/news/artist-delves-into-marginalized-and-underrepresented/article_8207c726-e86f-11ed-9715-03cd217e73dd.html. Monday, May 1, 2023.
Artist Trust 2016 Benefit Art Auction, Catalog. Seattle, WA. p. 10. 2016.
Businesses, Galleries Celebrate First Friday Art Shows. The Columbian. April 1, 2016.
Buchanan, Corey. Artists Go Nuclear on Canvas. Wilsonville Spokesman, Pamplin Media Group, page A5. Vol. 35, Issue 40. Wednesday, September 25, 2019.
Buchanan, Corey. Artists in Clackamas Community College Exhibit Go Nuclear on Canvas. https://pamplinmedia.com/wsp/134-news/439139-351288-artists-in-clackamas-community-college-exhibit-go-nuclear-on-canvas Wilsonville Spokesman, Pamplin Media Group. Monday, September 23, 2019.
Excel Foundation, No Moose Left Behind, Public Art Project, Coeur d’ Alene ID. Catalog. page 35. 2004.
Fall Term Art Exhibits at SOU’s Center for the Visual Arts. Rogue Valley Messenger, Medford, Oregon. September 25, 2018.
Featured Artists. Hillsboro Arts Magazine. p 9. Autumn 2017.
Fuller, Kathy. Exclusion of ‘nuclear' painting from exhibit sparks controversy. Hillsboro Tribune, Pamplin Media Group, page B1. Vol. 7. Issue 2. Friday, January 12, 2018.
Fuller, Kathy. Exclusion of 'nuclear' painting from exhibit sparks controversy. Hillsboro Tribune. January 12, 2018.
Griffen, Riis. Sam Marroquin. Subjectiv. A Journal of Visual and literary Arts. pages 68-70. Issue spring 2022.
Heuer, Friderike. " ‘Seeking Warmth’: A Romani artist who survived the Holocaust paints memories gentle and harsh". Oregon Arts Watch. March 17, 2025.
Heuer, Friderike. "Seeking Warmth". YDP - Your Daily Picture. March 17, 2025.
Ishman, Isaiah. Marroquin Showcased by Fireplace. The Advocate, The independent Student Voice of Mt Hood Community College, v 50, issue 17, Feb. 13, 2015.
LaMora, Nick, Bridging nature and narrative: ‘Precipice’ opens at Hillsboro's Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro News-Times, Hillsboro, OR, section B, pages 4-5, July 25, 2024.
LaMora, Nick, Bridging nature and narrative: ‘Precipice’ opens at Hillsboro's Walters Cultural Arts Center, Forest Grove News-Times, Hillsboro, OR, section B, pages 4-5, July 25, 2024.
LaMora, Nick. Bridging Nature and Narrative. Hillsboro NewsTimes. https://www.hillsboronewstimes.com/news/bridging-nature-and-narrative-precipice-opens-at-hillsboros-walters-cultural-arts-center/article_632f1e00-42fd-11ef-be32-df7154c748c8.html. Jul 15, 2024
LaMora, Nick. Bridging Nature and Narrative. Forest Grove NewsTimes. https://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/bridging-nature-and-narrative-precipice-opens-at-hillsboros-walters-cultural-arts-center/article_098300de-071f-5a03-89a6-cb1420cba6c4.html. Jul 15, 2024
Mallery, Robyn. Photosynthesis Magazine. Laguna Beach, CA. pages 46-47. Issue 3. Capitalism. December 2023.
Moyer, Kelly, Artist’s paradise, Washougal nonprofit TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center welcomes its first “Artist in Residence”, Camas-Washougal Post-Record, Section B, page 1-2, Vol. 111, No. 21, May 23, 2019.
Moyer, Kelly, Artist’s paradise, Washougal nonprofit TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center welcomes its first “Artist in Residence”, Camas-Washougal Post-Record, May 23, 2019.
o’Hara slavick, elin, Selections of Resistance, Viral Integration at UCI, Citric Acid, An Online Orange County Literary Arts Quarterly of Imagination and Reimagination, Issue 9, March 2024
Spykerman, Monika. Giant Birds, Lovely Layers at Vancouver’s City Hall. North Bank Now. Brown Warrior Publishing LLC. https://northbanknow.com/tag/sam-marroquin/ April 18, 2016.
Spykerman, Monika. " ‘I cannot think without remembering’: Exhibit at Vancouver gallery looks at lives upended by war." The Columbian. The Columbian Publishing Company, Vancouver, WA. Section D, page 1 and 6. March 8, 2025.
Spykerman, Monika. " ‘I cannot think without remembering’: Exhibit at Vancouver gallery looks at lives upended by war." The Columbian. The Columbian Publishing Company, Vancouver, WA. March 8, 2025.
The Museum of Americana, The Spaces that Hold Stories, Issue 30, Summer 2023.
Von Thiele, Jezmina, Paulina Stevens, hosts. Romainstan. Podcast audio. “Sharon Svec on "Seeking Warmth," an art exhibit featuring Ceija Stojka.” March 3, 2025.