About

Sam van Strien is a visual artist who examines the relationship between architecture and capitalism, exploring how these forces shape urban space. In his research and studio-based practice, Sam employs various techniques, such as rubbings from buildings, laser-cut engravings of photographs, and drawings sourced from archival records. Through these strategies, he seeks to convey the tactile and visual boundaries that shape our encounters with architecture. His work serves as documents, records, and visual remnants of our built environment, questioning whether the essence of architecture can be truly captured through mediated images, or if it exists only as concrete matter, as a place we can touch and see.

Van Strien is currently an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program. He holds an M.F.A. in Painting & Drawing from Ohio State University and a B.A. in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London, Keumsan Gallery in Seoul, and the Knoxville Museum of Art in Tennessee. Sam has completed several residencies, most recently as a 2024–25 Artist-in-Residence at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Tennessee. His practice has received support from Arts Council England, the Netherland-America Foundation, and the Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, amongst others. Sam has taught at institutions including Imperial College London, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, and Ohio State University.