Dani Michaux Samson

I was born and raised in a central Ohio home that celebrated resourcefulness and ingenuity. My artistic ethos was shaped by a culture of repurposing and reimagining. This laid the foundation for my approach to making, where I integrate paper, fabric, paint, ink, graphite, stitching, weaving, and anything else that I can source or upcycle from my everyday life into works of art.

My mixed media artwork harnesses the energy and intricate beauty inherent in my materials, such as tissue paper, junk mail, greeting cards, and old sketches or paintings, which incidentally find their way into my life. As an advocate for the potential of scraps, I uplift the seemingly mundane to a place of greater significance, fostering curiosity and wonder about their form, their history, and their renewed purpose. This practice also leads me to contemplate my own spiritual existence and the cyclical nature of the universe.

Within my creative practice at Calico Flower Studio, I create abstract art as a means of processing life and cultivating joy through the lens of mixed media. Beyond creating, I am passionate about demystifying my process, sharing insights, and forming connections with my audience. Through my YouTube channel, my writing, and my handmade products, I invite everyone, regardless of their background, to explore their creativity. My intent is to provoke meaningful reflection, offering nourishment for both the mind and the soul.

My work has been exhibited internationally. I create custom work for clients, produce and sell handmade paper products, and teach workshops in Los Angeles, CA, where I reside with my husband/creative collaborator and our two cats, Dahlia and Clover.

If you are interested in purchasing my artwork, have any questions about my practice, or would like to collaborate, please email me. I’d be thrilled to hear from you.

Education
2019        MFA: Visual Art New Projects, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
2019        Certificate of College Art Instruction, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
2015        Coursework in Art Therapy and Counseling, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH (degree incomplete)
2014        BA cum laude, Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Awards
2019        Finalist, Kroger Art Project | Building Community Through Art, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Reynoldsburg, OH
2019        Best of Show, Group Exhibition, Young Hearts 8, Sean Christopher Gallery, Columbus, OH

Exhibitions
2023        Moving Together (group) - Helms Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
2022        Mother Nature Survived It (and I Will Too) (group) - Helms Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
2020        Dust: The Plates of the Present (group) - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
2020        June Featured Artist (solo) - Little Bite Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019        Where I Live, Deconstructed (solo) - Bexley Heights Gallery, Columbus, OH
2019        Domesticated (solo) - Cova Cowork, Columbus, OH
2019        Where I Live (solo) - Gravity, Columbus, OH
2019        Replacing the Sun? (group) - Beeler Gallery, Columbus, OH
2019        NOT another ART show (group) - Moxie's, Columbus, OH
2019        Young Hearts 8 (group) - Sean Christopher Gallery, Columbus, OH
2018        SOFA CONNECT (group) - Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
2018        5th Annual Art Show: Illuminate the Arts and Sciences (group) - Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
2018        CHROMA (group) - Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
2018        Young Hearts 7 (group) - Sean Christopher Gallery, Columbus, OH
2017        Fixate (group) - Shadowbox Live, Columbus, OH
2018        4th Annual Art Show: Illuminate the Arts and Sciences (group) - Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
2018        #wildartcolumbus (group) - Wild Goose Creative, Columbus, OH