Curriculum Vitae
b. 1985, Hilo, Hawaii
Seattle, WA / San Francisco, CA
lesliesamson.tabakin@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2018 San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, M.F.A. in Art
2014- 15 University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI (Printmaking
2007 Smith College, Northampton, MA, B.A. in Studio Art
2005- 06 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (Painting)
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2021
Dear Artists With Anxiety, Selected to do a one-week virtual residency about mental health experiences as an artist via Instagram takeover @Dearartists, November 1-7, 2021
2019
AIR Air Residency, Selected to make and document an artwork during a span of a commercial flight, via CA to HI, Dec 2019
2018
Facebook AIR, Designed and installed permanent mixed media mural during two-week funded residency, Fremont, CA
2016
Kala Art Institute, Awarded scholarship summer residency at printmaking studio, Berkeley, CA
EXHIBITIONS
2024
I Am Not A Robot, Southern Graphics International Council Conference: Verified by Proof 2024, Providence, RI
2022
ACES // Artists of Color Expo & Symposium, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Seattle WA
2020
Possible (Refrigerator) Show (Mobile postcard project curated by Muz Collective, featuring 29 Bay Area artists)
Later Days: 5 year Anniversary Show, Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA (selected as representative of SFSU MFA program, curated by Angelica Jardini and Tania Houtzager)
2019
Kala Artists’ Annual, Kala Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA (Curated by Mayumi Hamanaka)
Laughter and Tears, Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Kristen Wong and Natasha Loewy)
2018
The Hand That Guides, The East Cut, 302 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA (curated by Callum Craik)
MFA Thesis Exhibition, San Francisco State University Fine Arts Gallery, San Francisco, CA (curated by Sharon Bliss and Kevin B. Chen)
Rule No Rule, Embark Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Elise Boivin)
Kala Annual Spring Exhibition, Kala Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA (curated by Kala Staff)
Paradise Lost, Martin Wong Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Collaboration with Jenna Meacham)
Connections, The University Art Gallery Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA (Curated by Michael Hall)
2017
Asian Images 2017: Artists from the Grassroots, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (Curated by Colin Kimzey)
MFA Whatever, Martin Wong Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Co-curated with Jenna Meacham, Amy Cella, Jeanie Ichimura, Shirin Khalatbari)
Kala Annual Spring Exhibition, Kala Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA (Curated by Kala Staff)
SFSU Student Works, Graphic Arts Workshop, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Susan Belau)
Eclectica, Inc., Koa Gallery, Honolulu, HI (Curated by David Behkle)
2016
29th Annual Stillwell Exhibition, SFSU Fine Arts Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Sean McFarland, Michael Arcega, and Mark Johnson)
Artists’ Annual Exhibition, Kala Art Gallery, Berkeley, CA (Curated by Kala Staff)
Paper Cuts, Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA (Curated by Thomas Wojak)
Kearny Street Workshop: APAture Visual Arts Showcase, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Kim Arteche and Dara Del Rosario)
Flux: The Edge of Yesterday and Tomorrow, SGCI Member Exhibition, Marriot Downtown Waterfront, Portland, OR
2015
Selections from Etc, Inc., The Pig and the Lady, Honolulu, HI (Curated by Lonny Tomono)
Etc, Inc., Fishcake Gallery, Honolulu, HI (Curated by Keiko Hatano)
CATeGORY, Wailoa Art Center, Hilo, HI (Co-curated with Lonny Tomono, Jon Goebel, Jerilee Negrillo)
Honolulu Printmakers 87th Annual Exhibition, Honolulu Museum of Art, HI (Juried by Sonnenzimmer
2014
38th Big Island Fall Arts Festival, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI (Juried by Caroline Killhour)
Against the Grain, Pauahi Tower Showcase, Honolulu, HI (Curated by David Behlke)
Honolulu Printmakers 86th Annual Exhibition, Honolulu Museum of Art, HI (Juried by Liz Chalfin)
Summer Arts Exposition, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI (Juried by Rich Richardson
2013
No Registration, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI (Co-curated with Lonny Tomono, Kevin Diminiyatz, Tobias Brill)
Eclectica, Fishcake Gallery, Honolulu, HI (Curated by Keiko Hatano)
37th Big Island Fall Arts Festival, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
2012
Poetry Scores Invitational, Mad Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO (Curated by Chris King)
Spring Arts Festival, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
First Fridays: Art Walk Hilo, 42 Kilauea Street, Hilo, HI
2010
34th Big Island Fall Arts Festival, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
Members Only, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
2007
Out, Hillyer Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA
Senior Exhibition Show, Janotta Gallery, Smith College, Northampton, MA
2006
2000 Sick, The Luggage Store, San Francisco, CA (Curated by Carlos Villa)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and COMMUNITY SERVICE
2022
Artist Talk, ACES // Artists of Color Expo & Symposium, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Seattle WA
2019-2020
Internship, Administration Assistant to Artist Residency Manager/ Adult Classes Coordinator Meg Pohlod, Kala Art Institute (Strategic planning, class catalogue management, website development, social media, marketing, print shop improvement)
2019
Artist Talk, Intro to 3D Design with Professor Sharilyn Palladino, First Year Core Studio Program, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Volunteer, Kala Gala Auction, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA
Printer, Artist Print Exhibition: Volume 2, University of Hawaii-Hilo Art Department, Printmaking Studio and Visiting Artist Program Initiative, Hilo, HI
2018
Artist Talk, MFA Thesis Show, San Francisco State Fine Art Gallery, San Francisco,CA
Installer, Tropical Disturbance, Curated by Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Visual Merchandiser, Pen + Ink Pottery, San Francisco, CA
2017
Artist Talk, MFA Now 2017 Slide Slam, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
Artist Assistant, intaglio printer for Susan Belau, Gruenwald Press, San Francisco, CA
2016
President, SFSU Print Club, San Francisco State University, SF, CA
Participating Artist, Individual Open Portfolio, Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI) 44th Annual Conference, Portland, OR
2015
Artist Assistant, intaglio printer for Yuji Hiratsuka, Visiting Artist, University of Hawaii-Hilo, HI
Printer, Artist Print Exhibition: Volume 1, University of Hawaii-Hilo Art Department, Visiting Artist Program Initiative, Hilo, HI
Editioning Apprentice, to Master Printer Professor Jon Goebel
2014
Artist Assistant, intaglio printer for Willie Cole, Visiting Artist, University of Hawaii-Hilo, HI
Artist Assistant, “Pseudoscape,” screenprint installation by Crystal Wagner, Visiting Artist, University of Hawaii-Hilo, HI
Co-Founder and Member, Etc, Inc. Artist Collective, Hilo, HI
2012-15
Member, Honolulu Printmakers Society, Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
2012
Juror, “Young at Art Competition,” Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
2011- 14
Executive Secretary, Gallery Committee, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
2010
Artist Assistant, KTA Superstores Mural by Kathy Kam, Hilo, HI
Artist, Walking Mural Project, Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI
2006
Artist, SFAI Corner Store Mural Project, curated by Carlos Villa and Tony Labat, 26th and Mission St, San Francisco, CA
TEACHING and RELATED EXPERIENCE
2020
Instructor, “Build Your Own Hierarchy of Needs”
Facebook Analog Lab, Menlo Park, CA, February 2020
Adult Community Workshop / Two 1-hr sessions / 5 students
Instructor, “Build Your Own Hierarchy of Needs”
ART555: The Multiple and Distributed Art, Professor Susan Belau, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, February 2020
Guest Instructor in Undergraduate Course / 3 hrs / 18 students
Instructor, “Intro to Screenprinting”
Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA, Jan-Feb 2020
Adult class / 3 hrs x week / 5 weeks / 6 students
2019
Instructor, “Intro to Screenprinting”
Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA, September 2019
Adult class / 3 hrs x week / 4 weeks / 6 students
Instructor, “Build Your Own Hierarchy of Needs”
Facebook Analog Lab, Menlo Park, CA, September 2019
Adult Community Workshop / Two 1-hr sessions / 7 students
Lead Teaching Artist, Mission Voices Summer 2019
Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA, June-Aug 2019
Youth Summer Arts Intensive / 12 hrs x week / 8 weeks / 12 students
2018
Instructor, “Block Printing on Paper”
Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA, October 2018
Teen Workshop / 3 hrs / 15 students
Graduate Printmaking Studio Assistant, SPR & FAL 2018
School of Art, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Jan-May, Aug-Dec 2018
Graduate Assistantship / 10 hrs x week / 30 weeks
2017
Graduate Sculpture and Expanded Practices Studio Assistant, FAL 2017
School of Art, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Aug-Dec 2017
Graduate Assistantship / 10 hrs x week / 15 weeks
Graduate Teaching Assistant, ART 436: Printmaking Workshop: Intaglio, FAL 2017
GTA to Professor Susan Belau, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Aug-Dec 2017
Undergraduate course / 6 hrs x week / 15 weeks / 17 students
Screenprint Teacher and Team Leader, Makers Market Summer Program
OMI/Excelsior Beacon Center, YMCA Urban Services, San Francisco, CA, June-July 2017
Youth Summer Program / 20 hrs x week / 8 weeks / 20 students
Graduate Teaching Associate, ART 235: Printmaking 1, SPR 2017
San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Jan-May 2017
Undergraduate course / 6 hrs x week / 15 weeks / 19 students
Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness Score: 1.3 avg. ranking 1(highest) -5(lowest)
Graduate Printmaking Studio Assistant, SPR & FAL 2017
School of Art, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Jan-May, Aug-Dec 2017
Graduate Assistantship / 10 hrs x week / 30 weeks
2016
Graduate Teaching Assistant, ART 536: Printmaking Special Areas: Alternative Photo Printmaking, FAL 2016
GTA to Professor Susan Belau, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Aug-Dec 2016
Undergraduate course / 6 hrs x week / 15 weeks / 16 students
Graduate Teaching Assistant, ART 235: Printmaking 1, SPR 2016
GTA to Professor Mario Laplante, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Jan-May 2016
Undergraduate course / 6 hrs x week / 15 weeks / 18 students
Graduate Printmaking Studio Assistant, SPR & FAL 2016
School of Art, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, Jan-May, Aug-Dec 2016
Graduate Assistantship / 10 hrs x week / 30 weeks
2015
Printmaking Studio Assistant, SPR 2015
Department of Art and Art History, University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI Jan-May 2015
Student Assistantship / 10 hrs x week / 15 weeks
2014
Instructor, “Monoprint Madness”
Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, HI, Feb-Aug 2014
Adult workshop, 3 hrs x week / 28 weeks
AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS
2017
Leo Stillwell Scholarship, San Francisco State University, CA
SFSU Graduate Studies Fellowship, San Francisco State University, CA
2016
SF State Kala Graduate Student Fellowship, San Francisco State University (fully funded summer residency, studio mentorship, and classes at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA)
Martin Wong Scholarship in Painting, juried by Sarah Hotchkiss, San Francisco State University, CA
Juror’s Award for Excellence, Student Art Exhibition, University of Hawaii, HI
2014
Summer Art Institute Scholarship, University of Hawaii at Hilo, HI
2003-07
Dean’s List, Smith College, Northampton, MA
EXCHANGE PORTFOLIOS
2017
Student Portfolio, San Francisco State Printmaking Dept, SFSU, CA
2016
Members Portfolio Exchange, Southern Graphics Council International Conference, Portland, OR
2015
Lateral Transitions, Portfolio Exchange between students of University of Hawaii-Hilo and Zayed University of Dubai, UAE
PUBLICATIONS / PRESS
2019
Ramirez Diaz, Camila. “MFA Students Explore Human Condition, Melancholy Through ‘Laughter and Tears’” Golden Gate Express, February 12, 2019. https://goldengatexpress.org/2019/02/12/mfa-students-explore-human-condition-melancholy-through-laughter-and-tears/
2018
Umusu, Ufoma. “MFA Artists Showcase Thesis Projects in Campus Exhibition,” College of Liberal and Creative Arts News, April 20, 2018. https://lca.sfsu.edu/lcanews/2018/04/20/817798-mfa-artists-showcase-thesis-projects-campus-exhibition
2017
Cancelmo, Amy, Editor. MFA Now, May 2017, produced by Root Division, San Francisco, CA.
Garucan, Gavin. “Hilo Artists’ Eclectic Prints Showcased at Koa Gallery,” Jan 19, 2017. Kapiolani College News, https://www.kapionews.com/index.php/2017/01/19/hilo-artists-eclectic-prints-showcased-at-koa-gallery/
2015
Taga, Naomi. “Etc Inc Opens at Fishcake Gallery,” March 19, 2015. Flux Hawaii, https://fluxhawaii.com/etc-inc-opens-at-fishcake/. Vaughn, Rosella, Editor. Kanilehua Art and Literary Magazine, Spring 2015 Issue, Hilo, HI