--- title: Sam Van Aken date: 2017-08-28T13:31:00-04:00 author: Graham Murray canonical_url: "https://feldmangallery.com/artist-home/sam-van-aken" section: Artist Home --- [![Ronald Feldman Gallery logo](/src/images/rff_logo.svg)](/) ![](/src/images/search.svg) View Artists Search Artists [Exhibitions](/feature_exhibitions) [Past Exhibitions](/past_exhibitions/) [Artists](/artist_overview) [News & Press](/news_overview) [Inventory](https://www.artsy.net/ronald-feldman-gallery/artists) [Publications](/feature_publications) [Gallery Info](/about) [Contact](/contact) [![Facebook](/src/images/fb.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/RonaldFeldmanGallery/) [![Instagram](/src/images/ig.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/feldmangallery/) [![Twitter](/src/images/tw.svg)](https://twitter.com/feldmangallery?lang=en) [Artsy](https://www.artsy.net/ronald-feldman-gallery) [Artnet](http://www.artnet.com/galleries/ronald-feldman-fine-arts/) ![](/src/images/close_btn.svg) ![](/src/images/close_btn.svg)Artists [ 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Sam Van Aken ![Van Aken Hero Image Ap](/assets/hero_images/_1600x800_crop_top-center_75_none/2765/van-aken-hero-image-ap.jpg) Sam Van Aken Arcadia (installation view), 2013 Biography Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Sam Van Aken received his undergraduate education in communication theory and art. Immediately following his studies he lived and worked in Poland under the auspices of the Andy Warhol Foundation and the United States Information Agency. Van Aken received his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001. As his work has continued to reach beyond traditional gallery and museum settings to take place in public/lived spaces his projects have been sited and staged throughout the United States and Europe, receiving numerous honors including a Joan Mitchell Award, International Association of Art Critics Award, and a 2009 Creative Capital grant. He is currently Graduate Program Coordinator for the School of Art at Syracuse University. [ ![](/src/images/down-arrow.svg) View CV ](https://feldmangallery.com/assets/pdfs/artistCV/van-aken_bio_letterhead_2024-04-02-212405_xwzf.pdf) [ ![](/src/images/down-arrow.svg) View Press Packet ](https://feldmangallery.com/assets/pdfs/Van-Aken_Selected-Press.pdf) [ ![](/src/images/redirect.svg) Artist Website ](https://www.samvanaken.com/) Select Press Jul 10, 2018 [ ![](https://feldmangallery.com/assets/pdfs/Charlotteobserver_SAM_VAN_AKEN_01.jpg) ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2018-sam-van-akens-at-mccoll-cente) The Charlotte Observer Group Show [ Sam Van Aken’s “The Open Orchard” at McColl Center for Art + Innovation ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2018-sam-van-akens-at-mccoll-cente) Apr 27, 2017 [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/Van-Aken-Tree-of-40-Fruit.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2017-van-aken-observer-dispatch) The Observer-Dispatch Group Show [ A Tree Grows in Utica - with 40 Different Fruits ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2017-van-aken-observer-dispatch) Jan 13, 2015 [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/Fantasia.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2015-van-aken-smithsonian) The Smithsonian Group Show [ A Tree Grows 40 Different Types of Fruit ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2015-van-aken-smithsonian) Jul 23, 2014 [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/Early-Gold-Plum.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2014-van-aken-huffington-post) Huffington Post Group Show [ Tree Grows 40 Different Types Of Fruit, Probably From The Future ](https://feldmangallery.com/news/2014-van-aken-huffington-post) Exhibitions [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Group/2015-Wave-Particle/Dyer-Coversong-Collection-No.-3-2012-2015.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/316b-wave-particle-group-show-2-14-3-21-2015) Feb 13 – Mar 20, 2015 Group Show [ Wave & Particle ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/316b-wave-particle-group-show-2-14-3-21-2015) [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Group/2011-Takign-Shape/Wilke-Primary-Life-on-white-1983-92.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/292-taking-shape-group-6-25-7-29-2011) Jun 24 – Jul 28, 2011 Group Show [ Taking Shape ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/292-taking-shape-group-6-25-7-29-2011) [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-09_1.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/289-armory-van-aken-3-3-3-6-2011) Mar 02 – Mar 04, 2011 Sam Van Aken [ The Armory Show: New Edens ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/289-armory-van-aken-3-3-3-6-2011) [ ![](/assets/exhibition_images/Boryana-Dragoeva-Celebrating-the-Next-Twinkling-1999.JPG) ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/286-en-garde-ii-omg-group-1-8-2-5-2011) Jan 07 – Feb 04, 2011 Group Show [ EN-GARDE ii: omg ](https://feldmangallery.com/exhibition/286-en-garde-ii-omg-group-1-8-2-5-2011) [See All Exhibitions ](/past_exhibitions/sam-van-aken) ![5 Tree Of 40 Fruit Tree 75 Spring](/assets/exhibition_images/5-Tree-of-40-Fruit-Tree-75-Spring.jpg) Sam Van Aken Tree of 40 Fruit, 2011-Present View Gallery ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/close_btn.svg) ![5 Tree Of 40 Fruit Tree 75 Spring]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Tree of 40 Fruit, 2011-Present ![9 Becoming Roy Neary]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Becoming Roy Neary, 2005 ![8 Oh My God]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken oh my god, 2006 ![11 Thumper]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Thumper, 2007 ![12 Multiple Deaths Of Willem Dafoe]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Multiple Deaths of Willem Dafoe, 2007 ![10 High Lonesome]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken High Lonesome, 2008 ![1 Hole In The Sky]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken A Hole in the Sky, 2013 ![4 Peanut Butter And Dead Fish 1]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Peanut Butter and Dead Fish, 2013 ![6 Tree Of 40 Fruit Tree 75 Summer]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Tree of 40 Fruit, 2011-Present ![7 New Edens 2011 Armory Show]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![2 Acadia Install 1]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Acadia, 2013 installation view ![3 Acadia Install 2]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken Acadia, 2013 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-09.JPG) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 View Gallery ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/close_btn.svg) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 4]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 2]() ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](https://feldmangallery.com//src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-09.JPG) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-1.JPG) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-09.JPG) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 4](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-4.JPG) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-1.JPG) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 2](/assets/exhibition_images/Van-Aken/2011-New-Edens/Van-Aken-Armory-Show-2011-installation-view-2.JPG) ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) ![](/src/images/close_btn.svg) ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 09]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 4]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 1]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view ![Van Aken Armory Show 2011 Installation View 2]() ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) 1 2 3 4 5 6 ![](/src/images/arrow-right.svg) Sam Van Aken New Edens, 2011 installation view Ronald Feldman Gallery has been at the frontier of contemporary art since 1971. 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