RESUME

Sam Ticknor is a studio artist specializing in drawing and painting. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to creating imaginative, literary, and free-wheeling works on paper using water-based materials: gouache, watercolor, and ink.

Her imagery is often inspired by nature, incorporating plant and animal forms as visual metaphors within symbolic compositions. Through these familiar natural subjects, Sam explores universal themes such as companionship, agency, and obligation. Her work blends this literary approach to subject with a deep appreciation for water-based processes, which reflect the transparency, fluidity, and subtlety of her ideas.

Raised in Hilliard, Ohio, Sam has studied and worked in New York City and is now based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sam completed formal studies in Fine Art and Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (BFA ’15) and Studio Art at New York University (MFA ’23).

Sam’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows including New York City, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and San Diego. Notable projects include: Rhapsody (2021), a solo exhibition of gouache cartoon-inspired paintings at Usagi Gallery; and Subject to Change (2022), an imaginative laboratory installation of cut-out transfer prints, gouache paintings, and experimental ceramics at 80WSE Gallery.

Besides working in studio, teaching has been a large part of Sam’s artistic practice. She currently teaches undergraduate drawing and painting at Seton Hill University. During the summer season, she teaches pre-college drawing and painting at New York University, and children’s workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. She has also taught at Carnegie Mellon University, The Drawing Center, and The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

Sam Ticknor

Born 1993 Hilliard, Ohio · Lives and works in New York City
srticknor@gmail.com · (412) 583-7130
https://samt.work

Education

MFA, Studio Art · New York University · New York, NY · September 2021 - May 2023

BFA, Fine Art · Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · August 2011 - May 2015
Minor in Computer Science · University and College Honors

Solo Exhibitions

Subject to Change · 80WSE · New York, NY · 2022
Rhapsody · Usagi Gallery · Brooklyn, NY · 2021

Group Exhibitions

Art Sons & Daughters · Hilliard Cultural Arts Center · Hilliard, OH · 2024
Secrets of the Heart · 80WSE · New York, NY · 2023
It Fed Me Until It Didn’t · 80WSE · New York, NY · 2022
Dream Baby Dream · False Cast Gallery · San Diego, CA · 2021
Flat File 2020 · Peep Space · Tarrytown, NY · 2020
Places within Ourselves · Kunstraum · Brooklyn, NY · 2020
NIGHT & DAY · Local Project Art Space / Departure Studios · Queens, NY · 2020
Bluets · 1027 Grand Street · Brooklyn, NY · 2019
Speak, Muse · In/Passing · New York, NY · 2019
Salon Show · Greenpoint Gallery · Brooklyn, NY · 2019
Three Rivers Arts Juried Exhibition  · Trust Arts Education Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2018
Three Rivers Arts Juried Exhibition · Trust Arts Education Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2017
Hiding In Plain Sight · Four Gateway Plaza · Pittsburgh, PA · 2017
Drawn From Nature · John James Audubon Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2017
The Food Show · Local Project Art Space · Queens, NY · 2016
Sixth Annual Pittsburgh Zine Fair · Union Project · Pittsburgh, PA · 2016
Some Preservatives · Miller Gallery · Pittsburgh, PA · 2015
Flash · Future Tenant Gallery · Pittsburgh, PA · 2015
Bound · Columbus Museum of Art · Columbus, OH · 2011

Online Exhibitions

Intensity · Rhombus Space · 2021
Good Bones · I Like Your Work Podcast · 2021
Personal Space · Collective 131 · 2020
World Series Flat File · The Lotus Tax Gallery · 2020

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Professor of Drawing and Painting
Seton Hill University · Greensburg, PA · 2024 - ongoing
Develop and teach foundational drawing and painting studio-based classes to art and art-adjacent majors. Classes meet 6 hours/week for a period of 15 weeks.

Drawing and Painting Instructor
New York University Summer Arts Intensive · New York, NY · 2022 -ongoing · Seasonal
Develop curriculum and teach a 4-week drawing and painting program. Work in-person with 54 high school students from around the country. The NYU Summer Arts Intensive is for high school students who want to learn about undergraduate art school and create a college application portfolio.

Children’s Workshop Instructor
Anderson Ranch Arts Center · Snowmass Village, CO · 2017 - ongoing · Seasonal
Develop and teach two week-long summer art workshops each year. These workshops target creative digital skills for students aged 9-11. Past workshops have included 'Adventures in Animation', 'Digital Art and Design', 'Video Game Design', and 'Tinker + Maker'.

Education Fellow
The Drawing Center · New York, NY · Spring 2024
Collaborated with the Director of Education to plan and conduct free educational museum visits for school groups of various age ranges, from kindergarten to undergraduate students.

Teaching Assistant
International Center of Photography · New York, NY · Spring 2024
Assisted instructor David Joseph with his course, Black and White Photography I. The class, composed of 16 adult students, met for 3 hours/week for a period of 7 weeks.

Graduate Adjunct Instructor
New York University · New York, NY · August 2022 - May 2023
Developed curriculum and taught ‘Drawing I for Non-Majors’ for two semesters. Classes, composed of 16 undergraduate students of various majors, met 3 hours/week for a period of 15 weeks.

Course Assistant
New York University · New York, NY · January - May 2022
Assisted in following undergraduate courses: ‘Drawing I for Non-Majors’ with Erin Schiller ‘Painting I for Non-Majors’ with Alexa Forosty

Creative Coding Project Instructor
Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy of Math and Science · Pittsburgh, PA · July - August 2017Developed curriculum and taught a 6-week project-based course on New Media Arts and Creative Coding. 8 pre-college students participated in the course, creating animated and interactive works using javascript.

Offsite Instructor
Pixel Academy · New York City, NY · September 2015 - March 2016
Taught 3D modeling and video game development after-school in public and private schools in New York City. Worked with groups of students ranging from 1st to 6th grade. Classes met once a week for the duration of a school year.

Maker Corps Member
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · June 2013 - August 2013
As a part of the Maker Corps Initiative, taught youth maker skills such as soldering, sewing, woodworking, circuitry and programming in MAKESHOP at Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. Participated in professional development sessions and led demonstrations for Pittsburgh educators who were interested in incorporating maker skills into their classroom curriculum.

Selected Professional Experience

Visiting Artist Coordinator
NYU School of Art Graduate Program · June 2022 - May 2023
Coordinate visiting artist invitations and facilitate guest lectures and studio visits.

Senior Design Technologist
frog design · Brooklyn, NY · October 2019 - June 2021
Worked as a software developer within a prominent design agency. Worked closely with designers to review designs and conduct user research. Built web applications and physical computing projects.

Creative Technologist
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh,  PA · May 2016 - January 2020
Created award-winning digital experiences for four museums (Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The Andy Warhol Museum, and Carnegie Science Center). Notable projects include:
- Dawn Chorus bird alarm clock app for Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- Warhol: Out Loud inclusive audio guide app for The Andy Warhol Museum
- Digital interactives for Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s We Are Nature Exhibition
- ML-powered archive enhancement and digital interactives for the Teenie Harris Archives

Talks

Collections As Data: The Outtakes · Digital Library Federation Forum · Tampa, FL · October 14, 2019
An MCN Lab on Museum Labs · Museum Computer Network Conference · Pittsburgh, PA · November 10, 2017

Honors & Awards

Martin Wong Foundation Scholarship · Martin Wong Foundation · May 2021
Make Your Mark Award Finalist: Best of Social Impact & Sustainability ·  frog Design · May 2020
Bronze MUSE Award: Mobile Applications · American Alliance of Museums · May 2018
Bronze MUSE Award: Interactive Kiosks · American Alliance of Museums · May 2018
Gold MUSE Award: Mobile Applications · American Alliance of Museums · May 2017
Interdisciplinary Project Award · Carnegie Mellon University School of Art · May 2014
The Armero Award for Inclusive Creativity ·  Carnegie Mellon University School of Art ·  January 2014 National Silver Medal Portfolio, Category: Digital Art  · Scholastic Art and Writing Awards · May 2011