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Entirely self taught, Samayoa’s work is a celebration of self-expression and his deep-rooted connection to his cultural heritage. Through his mastery of black and white charcoal drawings, he creates nostalgic scenes that resonate deeply within his community, fostering unity and promoting shared growth and knowledge.
Additionally, Samayoa’s art expands into vibrant color palettes and diverse mediums, including installations and ceramics. He often utilizes textured surfaces such as burlap, plaster, and soil to further explore and honor his Guatemalan origins.
SF/Arts Curator Insight
The first participant in COL's artist residency program, Oakland's Esteban Samayoa combines airbrush and charcoal to create both clean and slightly off-kilter portraits and dense, mural-sized community clusters that feel like snapshot collages of daily life. Next to these trot colorful images of dogs looking hungry and paintings that recall baseball cards or grocery store ads, which explore the odd phenomenon of marginalized communities "pushed to the eastern edges of cities through displacement and gentrification."
Mark Taylor
SF/Arts Curator
COL Gallery
COL Gallery is a project-based, contemporary gallery founded in 2023 by Callie Jones and Julia Li in Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, a bayside landmark since 1862, a Lawrence Halprin-designed community space, and home of Ruth Asawa's first public work. COL is named in honor of the late sculptor Richard Nonas.
COL Gallery is a project-based, contemporary gallery founded in 2023 by Callie Jones and Julia Li in Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, a bayside landmark since 1862, a Lawrence Halprin-designed community space, and home of Ruth Asawa's first public work. COL is named in honor of the late sculptor Richard Nonas.