AWARDS & HONORS

Carl Samson has won both the Grand Prize and Distinguished Achievement awards at the National Portrait Competition. He participated in a first-of-its-kind Russian-American cultural exchange with fellow artists in Moscow, and as the ASOPA Distinguished Guest of Honor, was the first artist to be filmed performing a live portrait demonstration on stage at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Carl was unanimously elected Chairman of the Governing Board for the American Society of Portrait Artists’ (ASOPA), and his full length figurative piece “Triumph of Truth” was given the Best of Show award at the Butler Institute of American Art. In 2022, he was awarded the MacDowell Medal for Distinguished Contribution in the Arts. For additional Awards and Honors, see below.

 
 

AWARDS & HONORS INCLUDE:

  • MacDowell Medal for Distinguished Contribution in the Arts

  • Grand Prize, The John Howard Sanden Award for Excellence in Portrait Painting, The National Portrait Competition, Atlanta, GA

  • Portrait Institute Award for Distinguished Achievement in Portrait Painting, The National Portrait Competition, New York, NY

  • Distinguished Guest of Honor, American Society of Portrait Artists 2000 Portrait Arts Festival, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

  • First artist to be filmed painting a live portrait demonstration at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

  • Chairman of the Governing Board, American Society of Portrait Artists

  • Vice Chairman of the Governing Board, American Society of Portrait Artists

  • International Advisory Board, American Society of Portrait Artists

  • Lead Judge, International Portrait Competition, ASOPA 2001 Portrait Arts Festival, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

  • Judge, International Portrait Competition, ASOPA 2002 Portrait Arts Festival, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

  • Who's Who in American Art

  • Who’s Who in America

  • Phil Desind Award for Most Outstanding Representational Painting, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH

  • Portrait of Natalie Portman as Padme Amidala published in Star Wars Art: Visions (2010 Harry N. Abrams Publisher) and part of an ongoing touring exhibition Star Wars Visions curated by George Lucas

  • Portrait of the Artist's Infant Daughter, The Collector, Portrait Study of the Artist's Wife and several additional portrait studies featured in the movie Artworks, (2003 Arté Films)

  • Artist Cultural Exchange, The OBEH Cultural Center and The Surikov Art Institute, Moscow, Kolomna and St. Petersburg, Russia

  • Expert Commentator for the first random access Masterpiece Audio Guide of the Cincinnati Art Museum's permanent collection

  • Expert Commentator for a random access audio guide of the traveling exhibit Masterpieces from Victoria, Australia

  • Honor for Outstanding Accomplishment, State of Ohio Senate 127th General Assembly, Columbus, OH

  • Guest Artist, Plein Air Painters of America, Santa Catalina Island, CA

  • Signature Artist, American Diabetes Association Celebrity Art Gala, Cincinnati, OH

  • Gallery of Achievers, Erie County Chamber of Commerce, Sandusky, OH

  • The Artist's Magazine Award, Cincinnati Art Club Viewpoint, Cincinnati, OH

  • Judge, Portraits in Michigan, Sage Center, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI

  • Judge, National Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL

  • Judge, Indiana Plein Air Painters (IPAPA) Member Show, Hoosier Salon Gallery, Carmel, IN

  • Assistant Director, Atelier of Plein-Air Studies, Safety Harbor, Florida

  • Mentor and Facilitator, Artist Fall Retreat, T.C. Steele Boyhood Home, Waveland, IN