Sam Ashby (b. 1981) is a British artist based in London. Sam’s archival, research-led practice is concerned with uncovering marginal narratives and activating them through film, writing and publishing. From 2010–2021 he edited, designed and published Little Joe, a journal for the discussion of film around subjects of sexuality and gender within a queer historical context. His first film, The Colour of His Hair (2017) premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam and won the Best Documentary prize at London Short Film Festival 2018. His last, La Licorne (2022), was commissioned by Villa Noailles for the 90th anniversary of Île du Levant, a naturist colony in the South of France.
His work has been supported by Arts Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council, British Council, BFI, Wellcome Trust, and Elephant Trust. Ashby was an artist in residence at SPACE (2013), Fire Island Artist Residency (FIAR, 2014), Villa Noailles (2022), and is a MacDowell Colony Fellow (2016, 2019).
Most recently, he has edited an anthology of Little Joe for SPBH Editions/MACK, and was an artist in residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation (2024) and presented his first solo exhibition, Sanctuary, at San Mei Gallery, London (2024).
iamsamashby@gmail.com︎︎
Most recently, he has edited an anthology of Little Joe for SPBH Editions/MACK, and was an artist in residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation (2024) and presented his first solo exhibition, Sanctuary, at San Mei Gallery, London (2024).
iamsamashby@gmail.com︎︎