Sami Rafferty
Interdisciplinary Artist
A 2018 graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Art’s painting department, Sami Rafferty’s works are mixed-media interpretations of the contemporary landscape.
She uses an amalgamation of materials to bring these works off the canvas and into our world—wood glue, sawdust, sand, and dirt are mediums in which paint is mixed. Surfaces are adorned with glitter, grime and grit. Her work acts as a synthesis of our relationship with our environment; exploring topics such as tourism, climate change, infrastructure, and travel-- she exposes social critique while reveling in the celebration of the ephemeral state of existence.
She currently works with sculptor Gerard Basil Stripling as his studio assistant, teaching artist for his not-for-profit foundation, and leading sculpture restoration projects for the city of Laguna Beach, CA.
Sami also holds a remote position with the Cleveland Institute of Art as an Alumni Ambassador, consulting with prospective students and sitting in on discussion panels.