I work within the context of the vessel to exploit its universal identity and impart my own vision of merging historical, contemporary and cultural influences. I am curious about finding relationships between various forms of creative expression ranging from art, traditional craft to design. When I combine these oftentimes disparate relationships, they bring forth a new object that is intended to provoke one’s perception of what is familiar versus what is new. My most recent work draws influence from Korean art and design. Clouds are a ubiquitous symbol depicted in traditional Korean art. I am interested in the way in which clouds represent a phenomenon that is constantly in flux. Their nature to morph and adapt is similar to the way in which I relate to my own floating sense of identity. These cultural references are intended to serve as an anchor to point towards my own ethnic lineage, but also question my perception of belonging within or outside of it.
Sam Chung is an American ceramic artist living in Tempe, Arizona. He creates pottery that reframes historical ceramics from a cross-cultural perspective. He has exhibited his work nationally and internationally including: Harvey Preston (formerly Harvey Meadows), Duane Reed, Tansey Contemporary, Gallery IMA, Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Ann Linnemann Gallery (Denmark), Greenwich House Pottery. Sam’s work is included in the collections of The Crocker Art Museum (CA), Icheon World Ceramic Center (Korea), Guldagergaard (Denmark) and San Angelo Museum (TX). He has also presented numerous lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally. Sam received his MFA from Arizona State University and a BA degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He also worked as a special post-bac student at the University of Minnesota. He taught at Northern Michigan University from 1998-2007, and has been a Professor of Ceramics at Arizona State University since 2007.