Portrait of Sam Schembri by Jordon Hon.
SAM SCHEMBRI
Artist Bio
Sam Schembri is a queer artist currently residing in Edmonton, Alberta who began her BFA at the University of Alberta then transferred to Vancouver, BC to become a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art & Design in 2020. After graduation she moved to Toronto, ON and worked as an Art Installer until returning back home to Edmonton. She continued her work as a Preparator with the Art Gallery of Alberta and then a Gallery Assistant with Gallery @ 501.
Her solo show “Iconic” at Slice of Life in Vancouver reimagined queer mythologies by utilizing printmaking methods on mirrors and painting on magnetic canvases to encourage viewer engagement. Iconic was meant to be its own space of worship, incorporating personal elements of fetishism in object-hood alongside iconic centerpieces to utilize the ritualistic behaviors of museums, domestic spaces, personal collections, queer expression, and narcissism.
Sam was one of the Emerging Artists in Residence at SNAP Gallery with her group show “Threshold” August 31, 2024 which was influenced by local queer icons and drag artists in Edmonton. She photographed drag artists and printed them on a series of mirrors installed as a grid, to emulate stained glass windows, places of worship, and the dance scene in queer spaces.
Her recent ventures have included a position as a research assistant with the University of Alberta, working directly with people living with terminal cancer and helping prompt visual metaphors that describe their lived experiences. She then curated and designed the exhibition “Longeviti” for the Milner Library for 3 months which was covered by City TV, Global News, and CBC.
Sam has become a published researcher and artist while expanding her horizons in writing, sculpture, multi-media exploration, public art, and revisiting theme’s of ‘play’.
ARTIST LINKS
“Baby Teeth” published in SNAPline “Ghost” issue 2026.1
Longeviti Research Publication
Global News coverage of Longeviti
Threshold exhibition with SNAP Gallery
“This, my body” published in SNAPline “Queer” issue 2024.2
SNAP Gallery Emerging Artist in Residence
samschembri96@gmail.com
Contacts linked below.