What wildness lives within our walls… and within ourselves?
Cities are never still. In her first solo exhibition, Guildford artist Sam B. Kennedy explores the dynamic relationship between nature and the built environment, chaos and control, instinct and influence. Vivid mixed-media works, inspired by contemporary street art, reveal animals emerging from each canvas, ready to reclaim their place in the concrete landscape. Alongside them, a striking series of layered portraits blurs the boundaries between human and animal, the contained and the free. Kennedy invites you to look closer at what lives around us, and at what stirs within.
Every piece bursts with colour, energy, and defiance- a reminder that nature is never truly tamed, and neither are we.
Get your tickets for the opening reception on Friday 5th September 7-9pm
About
Sam B. Kennedy (b. 1994) is an emerging artist from Surrey, most known for her vibrant mixed media paintings which balance elements of nature, chaos, structure, and tension. Inspired by the beauty and complexity of the world around us, Kennedy employs a distinctly 21st-century approach, merging traditional oil painting techniques with contemporary street art influences.
Born in Surrey, England, Kennedy studied at the Arts University Bournemouth from 2012-2015, and then at the University of Reading from 2018-2018. Kennedy’s work in art education has not only inspired her students but also enriched her own creative practice, leading her to explore various disciplines, including ceramics, textiles, and photography.
Kennedy was a highly commended finalist for SAA’s 2024 and 2023 ‘Artist of the Year’ competitions, and subsequently had her work showcased in both London and Nottingham galleries alongside the other shortlisted artists. The Royal Society of British Artists named Kennedy a semi-finalist for the 2023 RBA Rome Scholarship and had her painting ‘Two for Joy’ displayed in the ‘RBA Rising Stars’ exhibition at the Royal Overseas League, London.
The artist’s work is in private collections in the United Kingdom, Unites States of America, and Spain. Kennedy has featured in both solo and group exhibitions, including at the Holy Art Gallery, London; Espacio Gallery, London; The Royal Overseas League, London; Boomer Gallery, London; and Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking. Since 2018, Sam B. Kennedy has lived and worked in Woking, Surrey.