About Samuel Vovsi
Samuel Vovsi was born in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad, USSR) and lived the first half of his life in Riga, Latvia. After receiving a Ph.D. in Mathematics, he worked as professor of mathematics at Riga Technical University. In 1989 he immigrated to the United States and continued his academic career at Rutgers University, College of New Jersey, and UCLA. He is author of more than 50 research works in abstract algebra and group theory, including three books. In the mid 1990s he left academia and became a computer programmer, working as a software developer for various business and financial companies, including TD Ameritrade, Merrill Lynch, and Brown Brothers Harriman.
As an amateur, Samuel Vovsi has been doing photography most of his adult life. Initially it was on a purely recreation level, but in 2009 he joined the Princeton Photography Club and began to take photography more seriously. Gradually this hobby has evolved into a real passion, particularly because it perfectly complemented his love for travel and exploration. He traveled extensively throughout the world, and while travel photography still occupies an important place in his work, he artistic interests now include landscapes, urban environment, sculptures, architecture and people in their everyday life.
Utilizing his computer background, in the last decade he made a natural transition from film to digital photography and now spends a lot of time and efforts post-processing his images with advanced photo editing tools. He was a member of Gallery 14, the fine photo art gallery in Hopewell, NJ, and had several personal exhibitions there. His works appeared in several photography magazines and other publications and were purchased for various private collections. He was exhibited and won awards at numerous juried shows and competitions, both domestic and international, including Perkins Center for the Arts, Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ, Prince Street Gallery in NYC, Photo Review, Monmouth Museum, Pennsylvania Center for Photography and others. Partial list of these events follows.
2024 NBAS – “The Art of Perspective” Winter Photography Exhibition – Alfa Art Gallery
New Brunswick Art Salon 2023 — Photography: “Refracted: Shade and Light”
New Brunswick Art Salon 2022 — Photography: “Interchangeable Lens: Frame of Mind”
New Brunswick Art Salon 2020 – Photography: “Moments of Focus”
Vovsi’s photos are from his series “Latin American Kaleidoscope,” a collection of images taken during his adventures to several countries in South and Central America. Upon visiting the region, Vovsi’s first impression was the blinding array of vibrant colors. Used for everything from houses to cars, the bright and saturated hues visible in daily life are overwhelming. Combined with the myriad languages spoken throughout the continent, the wide variety of cultural differences and the unique history of native and colonial heritage, Vovsi’s joruney to Latin America was a kaleidoscope of experiences.
Exhibition
International Photography Exhibition, Artists Haven Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2010
International Aperture Awards 2010. Bronze Award.
Ellarslie Open 28, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, 2011.
Epson International Pano Awards 2011. Bronze Award.
Mercer County Photography Exhibition, Mercer Community College, West Winsor, NJ, 2011. Purchase Award.
International Loupe Awards 2011. Bronze Award.
“On the Road”. Travel Photo Exhibition, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT, 2011.
Artists of Yardley Juried Annual Art Show, Yardley, PA, 2012.
Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 2012.
Ellarslie Open 29, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, 2012.
Prince Street Gallery Art Show, New York, 2012.
Epson International Pano Awards 2012. Two Bronze Awards.
Photography 32. Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ, 2013.
“Night in the Vigeland Sculpture Park”. Solo exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2013.
Artists of Yardley Juried Annual Art Show. Yardley, PA, 2013.
Annual Juried Photography Exhibition. Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2013.
“Focus on Sculpture”. Photography Exhibition at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, 2014. Merit Award.
Monmouth Museum 35th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. Lincroft, NJ, 2014.
Ellarslie Open 31. Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, 2014.
The Photo Review 29th International Photography Competition, 2014.
“Europe: Aging Into Beauty”. Two artists exhibition (with Julian Weitzenfeld), Bank of Princeton Gallery, Lambertville, NJ, 2014.
“Making Waves”. Juried Maritime Photography Exhibition, American Merchant Marine Museum, Kings Point, NY, 2014. Honorable Mention.
“TWOs”. Solo exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2015.
Photography 34. Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ, 2015.
Ellarslie Open 32. Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, 2015.
Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 2015.
Mercer County Photography 2015, Silva Gallery, Pennington, NJ, 2015. Honorable Mention and Purchase Award.
“People and Colors of Latin America”. Solo exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2016.
“Americana”. Juried Exhibition at Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2016. Second Prize.
Ellarslie Open 33. Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, 2016. Best in Show – Photography.
Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 2017.
“Americana”. Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2017.
Annual Juried Photography Exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2017. Best in Show.
Mercer County Photography 2017, Silva Gallery, Pennington, NJ, 2017. Honorable Mention and Purchase Award.
“Pictures From the West”. Solo exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2018.
Photography 37. Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ, 2018.
“Americana”. Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2018.
The Photo Review International Photography Competition, 2018.
“Seeing in Sixes 2018” by LensWork: a six-image project “Latin American Kaleidoscope” published in the book.
“Sightings”. Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, 2019. Best in Show.
“Odyssey”. Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2019.
Artists of Yardley Juried Annual Art Show. Yardley, PA, 2019.
“Transformations”. Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2019.
Annual Juried Photography Exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2019.
Mercer County Photography 2019, Silva Gallery, Pennington, NJ, 2019.
“Moments in Focus”. Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, 2020. Honorable Mention.
Photography 39. Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ, 2020.
“Our Magnificent Planet 2020” by LensWork Publishing, featuring image “Twisted”.
“Shades of Black and White”, SE Center for Photography, Greenville, SC, 2020.
“Odyssey”, Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Doylestown, PA, 2021.
Black & White Magazine, Digital Manipulation Contest 2020, image “Awakening” published in issue #146, 2021.
“Transformations”, Pennsylvania Center for Photography, Hew Hope, PA, 2021.
Annual Juried Photography Exhibition, Gallery 14, Hopewell, NJ, 2021.
Black & White Magazine, Portfolio Contest 2021, Merit Award for portfolio “Nocturnal Life of Sculptures”, published in issue #147, 2021.
“Our Magnificent Planet 2021” by LensWork Publishing, featuring image “California Pines in Fog”.
Portfolio “Urban Dreamscapes” published by LensWork in issue #156 (December 2021).
Black & White Magazine, Portfolio Contest 2022, Merit Award for portfolio “Urban Dreamscapes”, #154, 2022.
Phillips Mill Photography Exhibition, Hopewell, PA, 2022.
Mercer County Photography Exhibition, Trenton, NJ, 2022. Juror’s Choice Award for image “Hands Up!”.
Artist Interview
Artist Personal Website: www.vovsi.com
Email: samuel@vovsi.com
Phone: 609-273-3459