Plunging Into Color: Enter Samantha’s Chromatic World

Samantha was strongly recommended to me by Ngendo, a fellow ARTssembly artist whose eye I deeply trust. The moment I encountered her abstract work, I understood why. Her canvases are vibrant, explosive mosaics of color that immediately stirred a cocktail of emotions in me. As someone who gravitates toward figurative art, I know how rare it is for abstraction to evoke such a powerful and immediate response. Samantha does so brilliantly.

Known also as Mbali-Sam Zawadi, this Toronto-based artist draws inspiration from deeply personal roots — including the rich, living palette of her parents’ garden. As a diasporan and global citizen, her work reflects a spectrum of human experience: peace and joy, but also angst, despair, and hope. Her paintings invite us to contemplate life’s many seasons, much like her own journey of survival, growth, and renewal — anchored in faith, family, and friendship.

During our Zoom conversation, I learned more about the path that shaped her. After a long and meaningful career in the humanitarian sector, Samantha made the courageous decision to devote herself fully to the life of an artist. Taking that leap requires conviction — and she has it. Her thoughtful insight and determination (revealed in the many perceptive questions she asked) leave little doubt that she is building something enduring.

At the heart of her practice is a belief that beauty lives in imperfection. As she boldly declares, “Art is still beautiful, even from those of us who color outside the lines!” This philosophy defines her unconventional approach and celebrates the raw, expressive nature of her abstract creations.

Samantha, I wish you every success in this new chapter, and I hope ARTssembly’s support plays a small but meaningful role in your journey.

And now, I invite you to plunge with us into her intoxicating chromatic universe — a space where color becomes emotion, and every canvas offers a deeply personal inner journey.

You can follow and contact her here: https://www.instagram.com/mbalisamzawadi/

Location: Toronto (Canada)