Despite life’s inevitable twists and turns, local artist Sam Mathers continues to carve out his own path in the art world—anchored by a deep connection to the ocean.
When he’s not in his studio, he’s always thinking about painting. The sea remains his muse, and nautical themes consistently shape his work, echoing the rhythms of the coastal environment that surrounds him.
This October 25–27, Sam will debut his latest series at the Raglan Arts Weekend (RAW)—a vibrant event that he says remains “close to his heart.” The new body of work focuses on abstract interpretations of container ships docked at Tauranga Harbour, showcasing the layered beauty found in these industrial behemoths.
“My partner is a photographer, and she took photos from the back of my mate’s jet ski,” he explains. “I rode close to the ships, it was a bit nerve-wracking being that close to those giants, but it was a really fun experience.”
From those reference images, Sam meticulously builds his canvases. Each work begins with thickly applied paint, which is then sprayed with water to mimic dripping seawater. He uses sandpaper to gently erode the surface, revealing layers beneath symbolic of time, history, and weathering and also the unknown of where the ships have been. Over these textured backgrounds, he hand-paints recognisable details such as Plimsoll lines, draft marks, rusted patches, and other maritime symbols. Even in abstraction, these elements give the ships a visceral identity.
But Sam’s path hasn’t been easy. The journey to becoming a successful artist has been marked by persistence, passion, and a refusal to give up.
“I always had the desire to be an artist since I was around 12 years old,” he recalls. “But back then, it wasn’t seen as a real career option. I was invited into exhibitions at Southwell School alongside some of New Zealand’s best artists. I showed work for four years, but never sold anything. I wasn’t confident, I wanted to paint in a way that didn’t feel like ‘real’ art. It was more design, street, graffiti-based.”
It wasn’t until 2009, after taking a break from art and finding his authentic voice, that things began to shift. “I was around 25 when it finally took off and I haven’t looked back since. If you want it bad enough, you’ll make it work. I didn’t stop until it worked. And it’s still hard. I don’t feel like I’ve cracked it, there’s always more to learn.”
One of his most recent milestones in his career came from an unexpected moment. “Last year, I was on a good mates fishing boat, and we saw a ship, we both agreed that would make an awesome painting. That led to my three paintings in the series of “Taharoa” – I remember the days and late nights in the studio and my partner and I saying how incredible it would be if the owner of the ship brought them and somehow that’s exactly what happened. During last years RAW, word got out through a friend and the owners purchased all three for over $70,000. I couldn’t believe it.”
And so Sam remains grounded and committed to RAW. “It’s a no-brainer doing it year after year. It’s been really good for me, and it keeps me going. There’s something about RAW that hits home. I’ll do it for as long as I can.”
His advice to others is simple, yet powerful: “You can’t please everyone. Don’t listen to negative comments or hold backs in your mind-just be you and keep going, no matter what life throws at you.
Once you start pushing yourself into a world of unknown in your art I think your on the right path a direction that makes you uncomfortable as you can’t sit comfortable with your work the uncomfortable is where your work will grow. I’m grateful for the support of those around me. At the end the day- Life leads you exactly where you want to be.”
