Introduction
Sam Middleton (April 2, 1927 – July 19, 2015) was a mixed-media artist from New York, NY. He travelled all over the world with the US Merchant Marine, lived in Mexico and Sweden and eventually settled down in the Netherlands where he "was part of the considerable contingency of expatriate African American artists". Settling in Holland in 1961, he established himself as one of The Netherlands' premier artists.
Middleton was born in New York City but grew up in Harlem, NY. Known for his personal style, Middleton liked to use abstract expressionism in his work, basing his color, lines, and compositions around sound and harmony. Middleton specialized in working with collage.
Early life
As a young boy growing up in Harlem, Middleton often visited the nearby Savoy Ballroom and music-jazz and classical-became important inspirations for his artistic endeavors. Working at the Savoy, Middleton designed costumes, and painted record and book covers.
List of artworks
Black Music, 1993
Monk Lost in Music, 2001