SAM MATTHEWS
Sam Matthews is an “artrepreneur” located in Phillipsburg, NJ. She has traveled all over the world, and it was overseas where she discovered her passion for developing creative outlets for others. Her first business started out in a 1978 VW bus named Flo that served as her mobile art studio and photobooth. Through an immense amount of ambition, determination, tears, and glitter, she has manifested the business of her dreams and is a full time working artist and business owner. Through her personal brand That’s So Sam she paints murals and curates creative spaces and at her brick and mortar business, Propagate Studio and the ArtBnb, she hosts workshops, events, and NJ’s first pay what you can art supply thrift store. The ArtBnb is where guests can have an immersive creative experience, just steps away from Propagate Studio. The newest project she has started is the non-profit she has co created called Project Propagate that is taking the art supply thrift shop on the road in their 33 ft. RV to bring more communities access to art supplies and opportunities to create!
She believes that the process of art making opens up doors that can truly change a person’s life, no matter their age or skill or ability. Sam is a multifaceted artist with a portfolio spanning murals down to miniature pottery. There isn’t a project she isn’t willing to try and loves creating environments for people to be inspired in. She is a hardcore believer in manifesting and working hard to make your dreams a reality, and loves empowering people to trust their creative intuition to do the same for their lives. Sam loves a dance floor, karaoke, anything rainbow and colorful, and yes of course, has colorful hair.Â
PROPAGATE STUDIO'S VISION & MISSION
Propagate Studio believes everyone is creative, but we often lack the time and resources to explore their potential. Through workshops that are meant to help grow people's creativity and through the pay what you can art supply thrift shop, Propagate has become a community resource where creatives gather, connect and grow. The art supply thrift shop is a pay what you can resource that is a win for everyone who taps into it. It supports artists who are on a budget but looking for materials, it's a place where unwanted supplies can come whether that's from a change in interest or the loss of the loved one, we help connect creatives to the supplies they need and keep the supplies from the landfill.
Propagate Studio is so much more than an art supply thrift store! They offer a wide variety of workshops, often focusing on using recycled and repurposed materials, meant to cultivate a communal environment.
Their ArtBnb offers artists creative retreats to engage in unique artistic experiences, including skill shares and workshops.
Propagate Studio has multiple Outposts throughout the state of New Jersey.