By Chayse Sampy

BFA student Chayse Sampy is an artist dedicated to creating artwork that both entices and challenges her audience. Originally from Houston, she came to LSU to study art and hone her craft to communicate about pressing issues in American society.

“I got into art at a very young age, drawing silly family portraits and on the walls, as most children do,” she said. “But no one could have predicted how big this passion would grow over the years, which has led me to LSU to pursue a BFA in studio art.”

She chose to study art at LSU because “it was the only thing could envision myself doing,” she explained. “I didn’t want to have to force myself to get up every morning and go to a job that I hate. I was lucky enough to have a mother that believed in me enough to fund my art education.”

Sampy aims to bring to life societal woes, racial issues, and key aspects of the urban culture in realistic, pop art style paintings and drawings. “I give a voice to those that have yet to find their own.” Her mediums range from pencil and acrylic paint to linoleum carving.

She has had her work featured at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and displayed in local and national art shows. She won the second place prize in the LSU Discover Day 2019 Juried Art Show contest for her series “Black Men in America.”

From “Black Men in America” series by Chayse Sampy

In her current work, Sampy confronts issues that she describes as disregarded in the past, which have become a catalyst in recent years. She aims to focus on racism, xenophobia, a lack of environmental consciousness, mass violence, patriarchy, and a flawed education system. Children are the primary figure in this series.

“Placing children in unbelievable situations and odd places that seem to juxtapose modern-day reality,” she said. “I intend on this series being my senior project, and I believe it will communicate issues that unite us all as Americans, as well as exhibit the skills I have acquired in my academics at LSU.”

Her work aims to confront the realities of racism and stereotypes. “I would describe my art as necessary,” she said. “Most people don’t want to talk about politics, most people don’t want to talk about racism — most people don’t want to talk about anything negative. I think that it is the job of artists to make art that reflects on the times that we live in.”

“My primary goal with my artwork is to force uncomfortable but necessary conversation,” she said. “Early on, we are taught that America is this global superpower, a safe-haven where anyone is welcome and offered a chance to prosper.  As I grew up, being a black female, I realized that there were structural flaws in the foundation of my country. My work is simply a reflection of the issues I see in my community and America as a whole.”