Samantha French is known for her captivating oil paintings that often feature women submerged in water. Her artwork is characterized by its dreamy, ethereal quality, and its exploration of themes such as femininity, vulnerability, and the people’s relationship with water.

A 2005 graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, French’s body of work explores themes of escape, tranquility, and nostalgia, drawing inspiration from her childhood summers spent in the lakes of Northern Minnesota where she was born and raised. Her paintings, rooted in reflections and memories, capture the vibrancy of light and movement, evoking a sense of calm and connection. Now based in the Hudson Valley, New York, she is a full-time painter whose works are part of numerous private and public collections across the world.

French's paintings often depict women floating or suspended in water, their faces and bodies relaxed and serene. The use of water as a central element in her work serves to create a sense of weightlessness and freedom, and allows the viewer to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the physical form.Through her artwork, French invites the viewer to reflect on the emotional and psychological aspects of the human experience. Her paintings are not just beautiful and visually striking, but also thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

French's artistic style is characterized by her use of bold, vibrant colors and her ability to capture the play of light on water. Her paintings are highly textured and layered, with visible brushstrokes and intricate details that add depth and complexity to the work. Overall, her paintings are a joy to behold and offer a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the human experience.

"This ongoing body of work is focused on swimmers underwater and above. Using vague yet consuming memories from my childhood summers spent immersed in the tepid lakes of northern Minnesota, I attempt to recreate the quiet tranquility of water and nature; of days spent sinking and floating, still and peaceful. These paintings are a link to my home and continual search for the feeling of the sun on my face and warm summer days at the lake. They are an escape, a subtle reprieve from the day-to-day. This combination of memory, observation and photography has allowed me to preserve the transitory qualities of water and remembrance."