Samantha Sommariva, aka Misklectic, is a multidisciplinary artist and film-maker. Her academic background began in the specialisation of sculpture at the Australian National University but moved towards film after transferring to Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The final years of her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree moved towards a more hybridised practice combining elements of digital media, lighting, installation, fashion and performance to create immersive environments and expanded cinema.
In 2016 Samantha’s multi-channel video installation titled #FOC (The Fetishism of Consumption) was nominated and selected for the Hatched: National Graduate Show at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. She was one of 35 graduates selected from across the nation.
Later that year Samantha was awarded a residency at First Site Gallery in a project titled ArtLab geared around the possibilities of collaboration and experimentation. During this time she hosted a series of happenings, workshops and performances, co-ordinating around 30 individual artists.
Samantha graduated in 2016 with first-class honours and was awarded a six month residency at Abbotsford Convent for 2017. During this year Samantha’s video work I’m Here - Digital Portrait of Mossy received the The Shirl National Youth Portrait Award and was one of nine nominated finalists for the Digital Portrait Award. The work is part of the permanent collection of both the Bega Valley Regional Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
The same year Samantha’s sculptural series titled Beauty and Decay: Vanishing Act received the Youth Artist Award during the Burrinja Climate Change Biennale.
Samantha’s works consistently contain a strong and ongoing social commentary reflecting the most critical matters of our time, whilst demonstrating a refined capability and strength in technical skill.
CURRENT & FUTURE​
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2018 Video Editor at Interlude Media, AUSTRALIA
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PAST EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS
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2018 Beauty and Decay: Sculptural Works Exhibition at St Heliers Gallery, MELBOURNE​
2017 Flash Night at Kings Gallery, MELBOURNE
2017 Promotional content for Kontrast Collective, MELBOURNE
2017 Promotional content for Universal Flux, MELBOURNE/BERLIN
2016 Art and Decor Curator for Universal Flux, Korona, MELBOURNE
2016 RMIT Graduate Exhibition Honours, MELBOURNE
2016 Hatched: National Graduate Show at Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, PERTH
2016 AV installation for Kontrast Collective, New Guernica, MELBOURNE
2015 AV Artist for Sleep D, at David Bowie Symposium, ACMI, MELBOURNE
2015 AV Artist for Sleep D, at Sleep D + Rat & Co., Shadow ABBOTSFORD
2015 Video Installation at White Night, MELBOURNE
2015 Stage Design for R.E.G.E.N Regrowth Festival, NSW
2014 Synesthesia: Live AV Performance + Daniel Sommariva at Art, Not Apart Festival, CANBERRA
2013 Misklectic + Dark Mountain: Dark Misklectic Debris at Art, Not Apart Festival, CANBERRA
2013 AV Artist for Dragon Dreaming Festival
2013 AV Artist for Sense: An Audio Journey w/ Max Cooper, Nishi Gallery, CANBERRA
2012 For The Love Of Art at Sketch&Tulip Gallery, MELBOURNE
2011 Misklectic Solo exhibition at Canberra City Framing Gallery, CANBERRA
2011 1601 Group exhibition at 1601 Penthouse, CANBERRA
2012 Live Painting with Symphony Quartet at Art, Not Apart Festival, CANBERRA​
AWARDS & GRANTS
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2017 Finalist in the Digital Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery of Australia
2017 Finalist and Winner of the Youth Artist Award in the Burrinja Climate Change Biennale, Burrinja Cultural Centre
2017 Finalist and Winner of The Shirl National Youth Portrait Award, Bega Valley Regional Gallery
2016 Nominee and Finalist for Hatched: National Graduate Show, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art
2011 Rainbow Serpent Festival Artist Grant
EDUCATION
2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours (First Class), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, MELBOURNE
VOLUNTEER
2017 RMIT Gallery, MELBOURNE CBD
2014 AV Installation at Modem Festival, CROATIA
2014 AV Installation at Linkylea Festival, SCOTLAND