My name is Sam Bullard (they/them/theirs), and I am a queer artist located in the Greater Bangor area of Maine. I work with a variety of mediums, including embroidery, collage, acrylic painting, mural painting, coffee painting, drawing, and printmaking.

My work is heavily influenced by my experiences as a queer individual, often presenting as themes within my work. I channel my experiences into expressive pieces that often involve vibrant color palettes and evocative subjects that focus in on human connection. I strive to put my understanding of the human experience of Self and Other into my art, aiming to connect with others through my artistic pursuits.

I have always had an incredible love for art. From doodling in my homework margins to studying art books in my free time, I was rarely seen without a sketchbook at hand. What started as a casual hobby grew to be something more when my high school art teacher helped me unlock my potential. I pushed my skills with a wide range of art forms, dabbling in drawing, photography, printmaking, painting, and other mediums. Drawing and watercolor became my focus during much of this period.

I enrolled in the University of Maine’s engineering program in 2013 at first to see where I fit in academically. During my free time I spent hours painting with some of my close friends I met freshman year and I also had some fun doing “sharpie tattoos” for my fellow dormmates. Things took a drastic turn during my junior year when I switched to a major in mathematics, and with a more flexible schedule I was able to happily pick up a minor in Studio Art. Over the course of my last three semesters, I took Art History, Drawing I+II, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Painting I, and Printmaking I. These classes helped refine some of my skills and gave me more confidence in my creative abilities. I also discovered my love for printmaking, and I hope to make more use of this tricky medium in the future.

After graduating with my bachelor’s degree from UMaine in 2017, I spent a year teaching at a Montessori school. I left the school at the end of the year and have since been working on my art career. I’ve created new artworks, displayed my art in shows, explored and networked with galleries across Maine, and worked on building a community for my art.

Over the years, my work has been featured in the Bangor Mall Art Exhibition (2012 and 2013), UMaine 2016 and 2017 Student Art Exhibition, UMaine College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Exhibition (2016-2017), West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse (November 2017, November 2019, and November-December 2020), Bangor Art Society’s Members Show (February 2020), Bangor Wheatpaste Displays (2019-2022), Birds & Bones Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery (July 2019), The Harlow Gallery (“Women. Respond!” show in 2019), The Rock & Art Shop’s All Small Art Show (2020-2022), The Equality Community Center’s rotating show (2023), Bangor Art Society's Open Juried Show (2018-2023), Mainely Studio and Gallery (May 2023 & August 2024), and my own Pride Art Shows at WMSACH & Chimera Coffee (2020-2024).

In 2022 I was selected by the Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center to create a permanent mural surrounding “Community Optimism.” Getting to create this mural is such an honor and a dream come true for me. The finished mural is on the side of Shaw’s on Main Street in Bangor!

My annual Pride Art Shows are one of my favorite displays to do. It means so much to get to represent my community creatively and see the joy it brings to people. I also love getting to display my work in the heart of downtown where so much of our queer community thrives.

My hope for the future is that I can continue doing what I love and have my art reach more and more people as time goes on. I plan on taking more commissions for individuals, applying to galleries, connecting with my community, and hopefully one day having a gallery of my own.

Thank you to everyone who has ever supported my work and continues to support it today. I hope I can make all of you proud and inspire you!

Photos on this site were taken by Sam Bullard.