Sam Lao is a multidisciplinary artist based in Dallas, TX, and is a UTA graduate with a BFA in Visual Communications. Having worked in multiple mediums since her graduation Lao turned to fiber art in 2020 to combat the isolation of the global pandemic, which led her to tufting. Lao’s practice explores the interaction between color, texture, and pattern as they relate to the constant creation flow and the actions required to bring thought to fruition. This process considers the ever-shifting nature of an idea from its inception to its ultimate consumption. Through her craft, she examines the abstract nature of what it means to be creative. Having been reprimanded many times in her youth for getting too close to the artwork during museum visits, the tactile qualities of Lao’s current work subverts the adage of ‘do not touch the artwork’ by inviting the viewer to do just that and, in turn, making a visual experience a physical one as well.