Preston Sampson III interview transcript, part 1, 2021-07-08
Scope and Contents
D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.
Dates
- Creation: 2021-07-08
Creator
- Elliott, Claude L. (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Preston Sampson grew-up in Pleasant City, a segregated neighborhood. He attended University of Maryland 1978-1994 where he studied with David Driskell, Ph.D., renowned African American art historian and artist, and Sam Gilliam, renowned artist. While an art student Preston worked as a graphic artist in advertising and the newspaper industry. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in 1984. He has worked in the D.C. Public Schools as a graphic designer. Fellowships and awards include D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank, D.C. General Services Percent for Art Program, Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council, and Absolut Vodka for a commission for its ad campaign. Sampson has been featured in Town and Country, Playbill, American Visions, and Black Enterprise magazines.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Preston Sampson, African American artist, reflects on the influence of his family, teachers, and University of Maryland in developing him as an artist. He describes the opportunities afforded him through the mentoring of other African American artists, exhibitions in private homes, local galleries, art councils, and D.C. Department of General Services.
Repository Details
Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository