{"id":472746,"date":"2026-04-13T14:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T19:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?p=472746"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:08:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T16:08:21","slug":"cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"An otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8-640x497.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8-960x746.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8-768x597.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8-1536x1193.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Ukuwelwa komda&#8221; (2026), oil on canvas, 94 1\/2 x 122 inches. All photos \u00a9 White Cube\/Frankie Tyska. All images \u00a9 the artist, courtesy of White Cube, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-13T14:42:02-05:00\">April 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\"><li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fcinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings%2F&#038;title=Cinga%20Samson%20Conjures%20Mystery%20and%20the%20Sublime%20in%20Large-Scale%20Oil%20Paintings\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Cinga%20Samson%20Conjures%20Mystery%20and%20the%20Sublime%20in%20Large-Scale%20Oil%20Paintings&#038;body=Cinga%20Samson%20Conjures%20Mystery%20and%20the%20Sublime%20in%20Large-Scale%20Oil%20Paintings%20&mdash;%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fcinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings%2F\" aria-label=\"Email\"  class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M20,4H4C2.895,4,2,4.895,2,6v12c0,1.105,0.895,2,2,2h16c1.105,0,2-0.895,2-2V6C22,4.895,21.105,4,20,4z M20,8.236l-8,4.882 L4,8.236V6h16V8.236z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"472746\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"1\" style=\"\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\" style=\"\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid groves of trees, meadows, and aging infrastructure, <a href=\"https:\/\/cingasamson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cinga Samson<\/a>\u2019s dreamlike tableaux are bathed in eerie light, as if spotlit or illuminated by the moon. The South African artist is known for his use of deep, dark pigments such as carbon black and Prussian blue, complemented by the occasional teal or purple and pops of bright white in t-shirts or sneakers. His figures, engaged in enigmatic activities, look on with spectral, all-white eyes. Green and brown foliage camouflages individuals who gather in fields, sort through mysterious items, and appear to converge with other beings like large birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The work seen here is currently on view in the artist&#8217;s solo exhibition at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitecube.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">White Cube<\/a> called <em style=\"font-style: italic;\">Ukuphuthelwa<\/em>. In the artist&#8217;s native language, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Xhosa_language\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">isiXhosa<\/a>, the title means &#8220;unable to sleep.&#8221; &#8220;Unlike the English word \u2018insomnia,&#8217; the isiXhosa term carries no negative connotation, and accordingly, for Samson, sleeplessness is not a condition to be cured but a state of spiritual alertness, a sensitivity that deepens in the dark,&#8221; the gallery says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of an otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-7-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Ukuwelwa komda&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The nature of consciousness and even the realm of dreams is an apt entry point to Samson&#8217;s latest work, which examines how painting can be what he describes as &#8220;true and honest.&#8221; What is real? What do we imagine? Throughout art history, animals have long symbolized certain qualities or beliefs, such as dogs as allegories of fidelity and birds as messengers between the earthly and the divine. In the artist&#8217;s large-scale compositions, there is a sense of &#8220;readability&#8221; akin to the narrative-driven Western art genre of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_painting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">history paintings<\/a>, where the presence of these beings hints at meaning. Yet as we spend time with Samson&#8217;s works, curiosity and wonder seem to always overtake glimpses of recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though the artist&#8217;s scenes may seem at first indecipherable, there is a foundational sense of reverence and ceremony in how his figures commune in seemingly out-of-the-way places for undisclosed, perhaps ritualistic purposes. Samson invites us to encounter the unknown, weaving a tension between what is knowable and what is unspecified or concealed. Through this, he explores the limits of representation in art and aims for what the gallery describes as &#8220;the authority of the unnameable and the territory of the sublime,&#8221; where sacredness is present in holy spaces and everyday experiences alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ukuphuthelwa<\/em> continues through April 18 in New York City. See more on the artist&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cinga_samson\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6.jpg\" alt=\"An otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6-640x543.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6-960x815.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6-768x652.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-6-1536x1303.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Iyafunwa&#8221; (2026), oil on canvas, 86 1\/2 x 103 3\/8 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of an otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-5-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Iyafunwa&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10.jpg\" alt=\"An otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10-960x641.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-10-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Umlindo&#8221; (2026), oil on canvas, 91 3\/4 x 138 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of an otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-9-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Umlindo&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1014\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2.jpg\" alt=\"An otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2-640x324.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2-960x487.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2-768x389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-2-1536x779.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Imfihlo&#8221; (2026), oil on canvas, 55 x 110 1\/2 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of an otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail &#8220;Imfihlo&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1702\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4.jpg\" alt=\"An otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4-640x545.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4-960x817.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4-768x654.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-4-1536x1307.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Isiganeko&#8221; (2026), oil on canvas, 86 1\/2 x 102 1\/2 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of an otherworldly painting Cinga Samson\" class=\"wp-image-472749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3-960x720.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Isiganeko&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The artist&#8217;s solo exhibition, &#8216;Ukuphuthelwa&#8217; at White Cube, continues through April 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2306,"featured_media":472754,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[493],"tags":[1529,4138,110],"class_list":["post-472746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","tag-art-history","tag-cinga-samson","tag-painting"],"acf":{"acf_sponsor_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings &#8212; Colossal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The artist&#039;s solo exhibition, &#039;Ukuphuthelwa&#039; at White Cube, continues through April 18.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colossal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1554\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Mothes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kate Mothes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kate Mothes\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3d0687f86e1920a56f27bc4264ca8ae9\"},\"headline\":\"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\"},\"wordCount\":447,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"art history\",\"Cinga Samson\",\"painting\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Art\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\",\"name\":\"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings &#8212; Colossal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1554,\"caption\":\"\\\"Ukuwelwa komda\\\" (2026), oil on canvas, 94 1\/2 x 122 inches. All photos \u00a9 White Cube\/Frankie Tyska. All images \u00a9 the artist, courtesy of White Cube, shared with permission\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\",\"name\":\"Colossal\",\"description\":\"The best of art, craft, and visual culture since 2010.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Colossal\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png\",\"width\":988,\"height\":988,\"caption\":\"Colossal\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/\",\"https:\/\/mastodon.art\/@colossal\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thisiscolossal\/\",\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/thisiscolossal.com\"],\"description\":\"Colossal is an online art magazine that celebrates contemporary art and visual culture across a wide range of creative disciplines.\",\"email\":\"hello@colossal.art\",\"legalName\":\"Colossal Projects Inc.\",\"foundingDate\":\"2013-03-01\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3d0687f86e1920a56f27bc4264ca8ae9\",\"name\":\"Kate Mothes\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b51c69827feccd335b39303132e9a7519bf5c28770703f523ff4389f89ffeda?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b51c69827feccd335b39303132e9a7519bf5c28770703f523ff4389f89ffeda?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kate Mothes\"},\"description\":\"In addition to her role as editor for Colossal, Kate Mothes is an independent, semi-nomadic contemporary art writer, curator, and organizer based most of the time in the Upper Midwest. She is also the founder of Young Space and a regular contributor to Arts Midwest's Creativity News Desk, Ceramics Monthly, and others. Learn more about her work at katemothes.net.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings &#8212; Colossal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings","og_description":"The artist's solo exhibition, 'Ukuphuthelwa' at White Cube, continues through April 18.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/","og_site_name":"Colossal","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/","article_published_time":"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1554,"url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kate Mothes","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kate Mothes","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/"},"author":{"name":"Kate Mothes","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3d0687f86e1920a56f27bc4264ca8ae9"},"headline":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings","datePublished":"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/"},"wordCount":447,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg","keywords":["art history","Cinga Samson","painting"],"articleSection":["Art"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/","name":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings &#8212; Colossal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-13T19:42:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-14T16:08:21+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/samson-8.jpg","width":2000,"height":1554,"caption":"\"Ukuwelwa komda\" (2026), oil on canvas, 94 1\/2 x 122 inches. All photos \u00a9 White Cube\/Frankie Tyska. All images \u00a9 the artist, courtesy of White Cube, shared with permission"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/cinga-samson-ukuphuthelwa-oil-paintings\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cinga Samson Conjures Mystery and the Sublime in Large-Scale Oil Paintings"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/","name":"Colossal","description":"The best of art, craft, and visual culture since 2010.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization","name":"Colossal","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png","width":988,"height":988,"caption":"Colossal"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/","https:\/\/mastodon.art\/@colossal","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thisiscolossal\/","https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/thisiscolossal.com"],"description":"Colossal is an online art magazine that celebrates contemporary art and visual culture across a wide range of creative disciplines.","email":"hello@colossal.art","legalName":"Colossal Projects Inc.","foundingDate":"2013-03-01"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/3d0687f86e1920a56f27bc4264ca8ae9","name":"Kate Mothes","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b51c69827feccd335b39303132e9a7519bf5c28770703f523ff4389f89ffeda?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b51c69827feccd335b39303132e9a7519bf5c28770703f523ff4389f89ffeda?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kate Mothes"},"description":"In addition to her role as editor for Colossal, Kate Mothes is an independent, semi-nomadic contemporary art writer, curator, and organizer based most of the time in the Upper Midwest. She is also the founder of Young Space and a regular contributor to Arts Midwest's Creativity News Desk, Ceramics Monthly, and others. Learn more about her work at katemothes.net.","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2306"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472746"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":472821,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472746\/revisions\/472821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}