Who is Samantha Dennison?
I am a painter, potter and parent living in Albany/Kinjarling on the south coast of Western Australia. My dual still life painting and ceramics practice explores memory, material, and place together with my interest in objects as containers of meaning and narrative.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Pause more, taking notice of what is happening around me. Paint more. Scroll less, or not at all. Walk more, swim more, listen more, travel more. Grow more in the garden and meet more great people.
Who inspires you and why?
My mother. My brother. Everyone has a story.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Raise my children well. Listen with compassion.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Camping in the outback with my family. Getting there can be most of the fun. And sometimes not, but that doesn’t change the fact that I love a road trip.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
We take them to one of Albany’s amazing lesser-known beaches for a swim and snorkel. It’s the south coast, after all.
What are you currently reading?
I’m re-reading Helen Garner’s diaries, loving them for her clarity and raw honesty.
What are you currently listening to?
I listen to podcasts when I drive and listen/watch series like Alone and Great Pottery Throwdown in the studio. I used to always listen to ABC Classical but found that too distracting – I would find myself getting so stirred up by the music it would affect how I made my paintings when I tried to conduct the music with my paintbrush.
Happiness is?
A beach swim in the late afternoon on a stinking hot day. And sometimes the cold ones.
What does the future hold for you?
My first solo show with Flinders Lane Gallery opens on September 23. That requires my attendance, so lucky me, I get to visit Melbourne.
Samantha’s exhibition, Of Ash and Ochre, will be on display at the Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, from 23 September – 18 October 2025. For more information, visit: www.flg.com.au for details.
Image: Samantha Dennison (supplied)