Samantha Parker

Samantha Parker Salazar is an American visual artist whose practice is defined by a rigorous, physical engagement with her materials. After earning her MFA from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, she developed a signature method involving the laborious use of scalpels and hot knives. By hand-cutting intricate patterns into paper, leather, and industrial PVC, she builds complex textures that occupy the space between two-dimensional surfaces and three-dimensional forms. Her work frequently navigates the delicate tension between beauty and destruction, capturing moments of movement within liminal spaces. This exploration is evident in her large-scale, site-specific installations, including permanent public works like Equidistant in Austin, Texas. A recipient of the John Fergus Family Post-MFA Fellowship at The Ohio State University, Parker continues to push the boundaries of traditional paper-cutting through her disciplined and technical approach.