About Sam
Sam Easterson produces collections of imagery that reveal hidden viewpoints or explore unconventional subjects. His projects, often shaped by niche fascinations with nature, have been presented everywhere from the Whitney Biennial to late night TV.
Easterson’s signature works often unfold over the span of a decade and operate much like independent business ventures. He has reached millions worldwide with exhibits, broadcasts, and viral online content produced through his company Animal Vegetable Video and his Museum of Animal Perspectives (MAP).
Sam Easterson’s Fish Studio is his third major project (2025 - present). Sam is a member of the North American Native Fisheries Association and he studies fish diversity through the American Museum of Natural History.
Past Exhibitions
Sam Easterson’s work has been exhibited at major art venues, including the Whitney Museum (NYC), the New Museum of Contemporary Art (NYC), dOCUMENTA (13) (Kassel), the Walker Art Center (MPLS), the International Center for Photography Triennial (NYC), and Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo (Mexico City, MX), among dozens of other US and international museums.
Sam is also the first video artist to be given a solo exhibition at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, and has had his work featured in numerous natural history and science museums, including Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, NZ), the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto, CN), and the Exploratorium (San Francisco).
Easterson, who earned his degree from The Cooper Union in New York City, is the recipient of various grants and awards, including a Creative Capital grant and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Prize, which supports artists working with nature-related themes.
Photo by rudis323 on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Televison and Media
Sam Easterson's work has also had a significant presence in mass media, extending his reach beyond museum and gallery settings.
His projects have been featured on international outlets like the BBC and Nippon TV, and he's also appeared on US cable and late-night television. His media works have found a their way onto a variety of networks, including the Sundance Channel, The Learning Channel, MTV, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and the Sci-Fi Channel.
Sam’s projects have also gone viral multiple times, trending on social media platforms, and have been reviewed in numerous publications including the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, New Yorker Magazine and Vogue Magazine.
“Arresting and profound”
- Newsweek
“Oddly compelling”
- The New York Times
“An intimate and completely new perspective of animals”
- Jackson Hole Magazine
“Entrancing”
- San Diego Union Tribune
Select Reviews
“Humbling"
- The Boston Globe
“Fascinating"
- Los Angeles Times
