Samantha Williams-Chapelsky is more than a sensitive, creative visual artist whose sweeping abstract landscapes have caught the eye of influencers in the art world.
She is also a savvy businesswoman who understands an artist's drive to “hustle” if they want their work widely viewed and appreciated. And people at all levels have taken notice.
Tanya Fir, Alberta’s minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, announced Williams-Chapelsky as the province’s fifth Artist-in-Residence on Oct. 17. Her one-year term started Oct. 1 and will end on Sept. 30, 2025.
The former St. Albert resident, now based in Edmonton, applied for the residency in May and received the news in Sept. Her reaction was exuberant.
“I’m told I had a few moments," Williams-Chapelsky said. "I’m fairly good at handling rejection. Not so lovely at handling success. I always try to keep midfield, but it’s very exciting. I’m thrilled to have it for the next year."
Alberta’s Artist-in-Residence has the freedom to shape her tenure according to her strengths. As the new provincial arts ambassador, Williams-Chapelsky will complete 100 new plein air (outdoor) landscapes, and visit various visual arts groups and guilds throughout the province as far away as Calgary and Medicine Hat.
The artist-in-residency program comes with a $50,000 grant. Half is designated as a salary and the other half will cover project expenses such as travel, venue rentals, exhibition costs and painting supplies.
“I’m a very multi-faceted artist. I’m able to teach as well as do art. I have to be. The life of an artist is not predictable. You can have long periods of rain and then there’s a pause during a drought. I’m very grateful for the rain. I chipmunk it away for when I don’t have anything else.”
Originally born in Spruce Grove, Williams-Chapelsky's family moved to Kelowna when she was a young child. Her father was a heavy-duty mechanic. Her mother worked for the municipality.
But by Grade 2, the Williams family moved back to St. Albert where work was more readily available. However, while in Grade 1, Williams won an Emily Carr Award for painting, and a seed was planted.
“I could draw figures. They were easy for me.”
As a student, she wasn’t competitive by nature and sports such as basketball and volleyball held little appeal. She was more into solo sports such as swimming.
“I wanted so desperately to be good at something, and I could draw and paint.”
As a student at Archbishop O’Leary High School, she immersed herself in academics and arts.
“I was particularly drawn to arts. I painted sets for drama productions. And for presentations, I would make masterpieces, storyboards and anything visual to make them beautiful.”
Her hard work was repaid. She received two scholarships: one for the arts and another in engineering. She naturally chose the University of Alberta Fine Arts Program in visual arts.
Today, Williams-Chapelsky can look back at her 20-year professional career and smile. But it wasn’t always easy. During droughts, the visual artist spent many years working in retail. She also clocked in as a swimming instructor for the City of St. Albert, taught fine arts classes and picked up contracts to paint murals.
“This project is so about Alberta, and it will capture what we want to highlight about our province."
Williams-Chapelsky was selected from a shortlist of seven artists. She succeeds 2023 Artist-in-Residence, Indigenous artist Sharon Rose Kootenay.
