Artist Biography & Facts

Benjamin Sams

Ben Sams was born in Gainesville, Texas. His father, originally from the Umatilla Indian reservation in Oregon, was in the United States Army and was stationed in Texas. Sams, however, spent most of his early childhood growing up in Montana.

Early on he knew what he wanted to do because from a young age, he had shown a strong aptitude for the arts as he was constantly drawing for his friends, and was involved with the High School yearbook, drama clubs and the debate team. So with his heart and mind made up, Sams worked multiple jobs and managed to save enough money for a year's worth of Art studies at Oberlin College in Ohio. He completed his B.A. & MFA at the University of Montana, where he first met and then studied with ceramists Peter Voulkous and Rudio Autio. He also worked as a graduate assistant from 1968 to 1970 at the University of Montana.

Sams became a potter, especially noted for his glaze technique and in addition became an accomplished glass blower, wood carver, painter and jewelry maker. He dug much of his own clay while in Montana and Washington State.

In 1967 Sams met his first wife, artist Dana Boussard, while at the University of Montana. He assisted her in starting her artistic career, and they also had several joint shows together. In the same year he constructed his first studio with a working kiln, and occupied this studio for the next several years. He also was invited to give talks and workshops across the country, and participated in many exhibits.

In the latter part of 1979, Sams abruptly quit producing his art because of family responsibilities and an unfortunate gallery experience. In 1975, he had re-married and acquired two stepchildren. He decided that being away on the road exhibiting and selling his works took too much time away from this family that he loved. Coming from a home of divorced parents, he realized the importance of solid family life. Another component of his decision was that a Gallery owner representing his work failed to pay him and destroyed many of his works by returning his one-piece sculptures in multiple pieces and multiple boxes.

Then in 2001 after his family was raised, he decided to re-enter the art world, but he died suddenly the next year of heart failure at the young age of 57. He was in his studio barn in Snohomish, Montana, and had just started greasing his potting wheel.

HONORS INCLUDE
$1,000 grant to build a campus sculpture at The University of Montana, 1966 "Christ Relief" ceramic mural, Newman Center, Missoula Montana, 1969
Prize, Northwest Ceramics Show, Great Falls, 1970;
$1,000 grant, Rocky Mountain Federation, Glass study, 1972
Honorable Mention, Henry Gallery, Northwest Craftsman Exhibit, 1972
Elected as founding board member of The Missoula Arts Council, 1971

EXHIBITIONS
Northwest International Printmakers Exhibition, Seattle, Washington, 1966
Scripps Ceramic Invitational, Claremont, California, 1966
Three person show Atica Gallery, Seattle, WA 1967
Atica Gallery, One person show, 1968
Tacoma Art Museum, group show, 1968
California Palace of Honor, San Francisco, CA one person show
Louisiana Arts & Science center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one person show, 1970 University of California, Davis, one-person show, 1970
Richard White Gallery, Seattle, Two person show, 1970
Museum of Contemporary Crafts New York, New York, group show, 1970
Charles M. Russell Gallery, Great Falls Montana, three person show, 1970 Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, two person show, 1971
Fountain Gallery, Portland, Oregon, June 1971, group show & later a two person show
Denver Art Museum, Denver Colorado, (opening) group show, 1971
Foster White Gallery, Seattle WA "Sculpture 78 Invitational", group show, 1978
Henry Gallery Seattle, 1981

WORKSHOPS-TEACHING
Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA 1968
Portland State University, 1972 & 197;
Evergreen State University, Olympia, WA. 1976 &1974
Seward Park Art Studio, Seattle, WA. 1970's
Originated & taught in Ceramics Program at the University Center, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
1973, taught Ceramics at Highline Community College
Lectured and did live demonstrations for the King County Arts Commission, 1974

Written and submitted April 2004 by Mark Jones, a family friend whose father was a close friend of the artist and who was a good friend of a stepson of Ben Sams. "I was one of the kids that got ropped into going to the river to dig clay all day and haul it home for Ben.

**Update:  Robert Dale states that Ben Sams passed away on the beach and not in his studio (email submitted on 3/25/2022)