Mary Ann Sampson is an American artist living and working in Ragland, Alabama. Sampson is a book artist, specializing in miniatures and broadsides most of which are ''unique'' or ''one-of-a-kinds.'' She explores the book as a means of expressing visual ideas that stem from recollections of personal events and experiences that have been derived from living in her rural environment of Alabama. Sampson received her Master in Books Arts from the University of Alabama. Sampson founded the ''OEOCO PRESS'' (One-Eye Opera Company), whose mission is to make limited edition, letterpress books,

bookbinding Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book of codex format from an ordered stack of ''signatures'', sheets of paper folded together into sections that are bound, along one edge, with a thick needle and strong thread. Cheaper, b ...

and unique (one-of-a-kind) books.

Exhibitions

*Sampson's work has been exhibited in more than 50 venues since 1983 including locations in Germany, Canada, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, New York, Washington, New Mexico. *Her work has been shown extensively in galleries specializing with book arts venues including

Agnes (gallery) Agnes was a Birmingham, Alabama photography gallery from 1993 to 2001. Shawn Boley, Jon Coffelt and Jan Hughes opened the gallery with the mission of attempting to raise awareness of social issues — such as cancer, AIDS, death and dying, th ...

, Center For Book Arts, The

Newberry Library The Newberry Library is an independent research library, specializing in the humanities and located on Washington Square in Chicago, Illinois. It has been free and open to the public since 1887. Its collections encompass a variety of topics rela ...

, R. R. Donnelley Gallery, Sarah Moody Gallery, University of Alabama, University of Chicago, Birmingham Public Library, Wells Book Art Center, University of North Alabama and

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

among many others. *Sampson's work was included in ''"UPsouth"'' which traveled to several venues across Birmingham, including Space One Eleven,

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a large interpretive museum and research center in Birmingham, Alabama that depicts the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The Institute is located in the Civil Rights District, whic ...

, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Visual Arts Gallery, and Agnes. It showed the work of artists Emma Amos and Willie Birch and writer

bell hooks Gloria Jean Watkins (September 25, 1952December 15, 2021), better known by her pen name bell hooks, was an American author and social activist who was Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College. She is best known for her writings on ...

, as well as Ann Benton, Priscilla Hancock Cooper,

Karen Graffeo Karen Graffeo is an American artist based in Birmingham, Alabama. While specializing in photography, Graffeo is also a choreographer and installation artist. Early in her photography career, she worked as Jerry Uelsmann's assistant and model. ...

, Janice Kluge,

Lee Isaacs Lee Isaacs is an American photographer, living and working in Birmingham, Alabama. Isaacs studied pinhole photography with Pinky Bass. He has worked both with commercial and art photography. He works with photography seminars and teaches classe ...

, J. M. Walker and

Marie Weaver Marie Weaver is an American artist who specializes in ceramic sculpture, printmaking, book arts, and graphic design. Weaver earned a B. A. from the University of Vermont and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University. Weaver lives and ...

.Weaver lists this in he
résumé
. The exhibition was funded through the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts. *She was included in "ABeCedarium: An Exhibit of Alphabet Books," juried by noteworthy peers William Drendel, ''book artist'' and ''Guild of Book Workers'' member; Paul Gehl of the

and "ABC Books Then" curator; and Pam Spitzmueller, ''book artist'' and ''conservator'' at Harvard University. Sampson's work was exhibited alongside Emily Martin,

Lucas Samaras Lucas Samaras (born 1936) is a Greek-American artist. Early life and education Samaras was born in Kastoria, Greece. He studied at Rutgers University on a scholarship, where he met Allan Kaprow and George Segal. Career Samaras participated in ...

, Claire Jeanine Satin, Christopher McAfee. This exhibition included a full catalog. *In 2010, Sampson was selected to be part of "'A Reader's Art,'" curated by

Jon Coffelt Johnny Lee Coffelt born (May 16, 1963) is an American artist who lives and works in Brooklyn New York City. Coffelt paints, sculpts, sews, makes Artist's books, book arts, and curates art exhibitions. Background Coffelt was born to Dorcas Ann (ma ...

for Susan Hensel Gallery in Minneapolis, MN. This was a 10-year survey of

artist's books Artists' books (or book arts or book objects) are works of art that utilize the form of the book. They are often published in small editions, though they are sometimes produced as one-of-a-kind objects. Overview Artists' books have employed a ...

including works by

Pinky Bass Marion M. Bass, known as Pinky Bass or Pinky/MM Bass, is an American photographer, known for her work in pinhole photography. Bass, a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, has exhibited at a number of museums including the Asheville Art Museum, Bir ...

, Janice Kluge, Joan Lyons, Qi peng, Luce,

Beatrice Coron Beatrice may refer to: * Beatrice (given name) Places In the United States * Beatrice, Alabama, a town * Beatrice, Humboldt County, California, a locality * Beatrice, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Beatrice, Indiana, an unincorporated c ...

, Buzz Spector and

Sara Garden Armstrong Sara Garden Armstrong is an American artist who lives and works in New York City. Armstrong creates sculptures, paintings, drawings (from miniature to wall size), artist's books, multimedia artworks involving computers sound and light, and con ...

. This exhibition included a catalog.

Works

* "Book Arts: Four Approaches" 1991 collaboration with

Edith Frohock Edith Frohock (1917–1997) was an American artist who lived and worked in Birmingham, Alabama. Frohock specialized in painting, printmaking and artist's books and was the first instructor to teach book arts in the South. Frohock was part of ...

, decorative papers and binding by Paula Marie Gourley, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. * "''Ragland Birds''" 1994 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Ragland Birds”
* "''Strange Birds''" Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Strange Birds”
* "''Henny Penny's''" Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Henny Penny”
* "''Howl at the Moon, Shoot Out the Lights''" 1997 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Interior of “Howl at the moon, Shoot Out the Lights”
* "''Fish''" 1989 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Purple Dreams''" 1989 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Mona Lisa in the Heart of Dixie Lounge''" 1999 Unique hand-made book sculpture, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Mona Lisa in the Heart of Dixie Lounge”
* "''A Primer of Oriental Thought''" Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama
Description of “Primer of Oriental Thought”
* "''Rejoice''" 1998 Unique accordion book in cardboard box from the series "What is Hand," Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Rejoice”
* "''Singing and Dancing''" 1997 Unique concertina with slipcover, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Heart Song''" 1994 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Heart Song”
* "''Do the Dog''" 1991 Unique Palm book in cigar box, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Do the Dog”
* "''Barn''" 1995 Unique with pop-out, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Obstacles & Impediments''" 2000 edition of 52, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama
Description of “Obstacles & Impediments”
* "''Basil Moon of Ardmore''" Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''srebmun''" 1990 Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Beware of Rising Waters''" Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Landscape''" 1995 Unique Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''One Moon: Two Moon; Three Moon Rising''" 1991 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama
Description of “One Moon: Two Moon; Three Moon Rising”
* "''Aria''" 1995 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Visual Songs and Bone Dances''" 1992 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Visual Songs and Bone Dances”
* "''Pokeberry Inscription By Sue Brannan Walker''" 2008 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Pokeberry Inscription”
* "''Teaching a Bird to Sing''" 2004 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. * "''Faulkner Suite By Sue Brannan Walker''" 2008 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama.
Description of “Faulkner Suite”
* "''Prayer Book and Singer''" 1994 Unique, Published by (OEOCO) Ragland, Alabama. (shown in The Anthropomorphic Book annual book exhibition) 1994, The Center for Book Arts, New York City. * Sampson collaborated in "''Macaroni and Cheese''" with Terrence A. Taylor, proprietor of Duende Press in Dolomite, 1989, edition of 20 Published by ''Duende Press'' Dolomite, Alabama * "''Then From These Stones''" collaboration with Dorothy Fields, 2003, edition of 50 (Hand-colored and manipulated after printing with variant bindings) Published by University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Description of “Then From These Stones”
* "''The Pink Riviera''" for ''Umbrella Vol. 20 No. 2'', May 1997 New York City. includes an illustrated cover by Mary Ann Sampson * "''Book Arts: Four Approaches''" collaboration with

, 1991, decorative papers and binding by Paula Marie Gourley, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Audio

Book artists and Poets
2006 Steve Miller interviews Mary Ann Sampson

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampson, Mary Ann Living people American multimedia artists Artists from Birmingham, Alabama People from Ragland, Alabama Book artists American women artists Year of birth missing (living people)