Sam Chung is a Korean American ceramic artist based in Arizona. He creates pottery that reframes historical ceramics from a cross-cultural perspective. He holds an MFA from Arizona State University and a BA from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Currently, he is a Professor of Ceramics at Arizona State University. During the 2021-22 academic year, Sam was awarded a U.S. Fulbright Scholar grant in South Korea. His work has been exhibited at prestigious galleries around the world, including the Duane Reed Gallery, Harvey Preston Gallery, Ann Linnemann Gallery in Denmark, Soluna Living in Korea, Northern Clay Center, ClayAKAR, and Greenwich House Pottery. His pieces are a part of permanent collections at institutions such as the Everson Museum of Art in New York, the Crocker Art Museum in California, the Icheon World Ceramic Center in Korea, the Guldagergaard in Denmark, and the Weisman Art Museum in Minnesota.
Sam's work explores the vessel as a universal form while imparting his own vision by merging historical, contemporary, and cultural influences. He curates relationships between art, traditional craft, and design, creating new interpretations that challenge perceptions of what is familiar and what is new. His recent work draws inspiration from Korean art and design, particularly the cloud motif, a common symbol in traditional Korean art. Sam sees clouds as a metaphor for constant change, reflecting his own evolving sense of identity. These cultural references serve as a connection to his ethnic heritage, while also encouraging viewers to question their own sense of belonging within a cultural context.