Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa is a painter and interdisciplinary artist based in the East Bay who integrates spiritual, empathetic, and passionate elements into his work. Samayoa says that what inspires him most is the drive for himself and others to be seen, and for communities to understand each other and grow together.
“I love deeply and I’ll do all I can to create work that inspires a message of togetherness. I’m also inspired by my many talented artist friends who help me so much,” Samayoa told 48hills.
Samayoa, who is of Mexican and Guatemalan heritage, grew up in Sacramento and came to the Bay Area in 2017 to build a creative life. He says he appreciates the resilient and accepting culture of the Bay Area’s art community.
“The love and support we give to each other is unmatched and allows artists to create freely and authentically,” he said.
Drawing since the age of three, Samayoa’s work has evolved in his adult years into black and white renderings in charcoal on canvas and paper, often blended with acrylics or pastels. An early focus of his work was primarily depictions of dogs as perceptive metaphor and characters from his years growing up in Sacramento.
Samayoa’s mastery of his medium and technique has been compared to Goya and though his primary media continue as charcoal and airbrush, he is turning toward expanding his toolbox of materials.
“I’ve been adding sculptural elements to my paintings as well as using different surfaces to paint on, like soil, plaster and burlap, to represent culture. Oil paint, oil sticks, ceramics and instillation are also part of my current practice,” he said.
A typical day for Samayoa starts early, waking up at 6am and going to the gym, followed by a nourishing breakfast. He then makes his way to a shared studio around the corner from where he lives.
“If I’m not working on a specific show, I like to prepare a few canvases and think about what I’d love to introduce to my existing practice. Since charcoal and airbrush are my strong points, I like to think about how else I can elevate the work or what other materials I might use,” he said.
Recently diving into color, a departure from his predominantly black and white palette, Samayoa says he’s been playing around with loose washes on canvases and working up more abstracted figures.
“It’s been really fun and a good way to pivot from my more usual precise way of painting. I spend about three to six hours in my studio working, then clean up my space for the next day before I walk back home,” Samayoa said.
Since a debut solo show in 2019 at Good Mother Gallery in Oakland (before its recent move to Los Angeles), Samayoa has developed significantly. As a self-taught artist now fully committed to his work, Samayoa says he owes a lot to the amazing creative community he has built around making art.
“I’ve grown more confident in creating as well as speaking about my work. And I’m doing my best to lead by example for other artists like me,” he said.
Beyond his personal community, other artists in the broader pantheon inspire him. Samayoa mentions an exhibit at David Zwirner Gallery in Los Angeles that gave him a spark.
“I recently saw a Raymond Saunders exhibit there that I really loved. I have always been a fan of his work and his collages gave me good insight on what it means to let found items speak to you.”
Notable moments for Samayoa in the last few years that have propelled his career include being an Artadia San Francisco Bay Area awardee in 2024; having his first institutional exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose with coverage in the New York Times; and a first solo exhibition in Los Angeles with Charlie James Gallery. Most recently, Samayoa’s solo show, Somethin’ Bout The East, opened on May 8and runs through July 11 at COL Gallery near Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco.
“It has been a great privilege collaborating with Esteban and witnessing the evolution of his practice over the past few years,” Callie Jones, co-founder of COL Gallery said. “His work reflects a deep longing for togetherness, a belief in resilience and a conviction that art can serve as a bridge between people, experiences and histories. In a world that often feels woefully fragmented, Esteban reminds us of the beauty found in shared struggles and the quiet power of holding space for one another.”
In addition to exhibitions, Samayoa participated in the Bed Stuy Art Residency in Brooklyn, New York in 2022 as well as residencies at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts and The Macedonia Institute in Chatham, New York in the Hudson Valley in 2025. He has also collaborated in global partnership campaigns with Carhartt-Work in Progress in 2023 and Salomon Shoes, Patta Clothing, and Cadillac in 2024. Despite the upswing of attention and dedication, Samayoa remains humble and devoted to his purpose.
“When I was younger, I never in a million years thought I would be able to do this. Treat your dreams like they are their own religion. Have faith in it because you never know what will happen. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be on my way up, big time,” he said.
Regarding how current and recent events in the world influence his work and his life, Samayoa says he feels that he is always adapting to his environment.
“I’m usually asking myself how we can get more out of this life. Not merely money or objects but just good quality living with those around me. Through the pandemic and social issues in the world, my work reflects the way in which we survive as artists and community in these times,” Samayoa said.
As Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa navigates his way through the complexities of the art world, he says that his hope is that when people arrive at a place where he is exhibiting work that they feel like they are home.
“We are immensely grateful to be working with Esteban, proud to have him as part of our growing COL Gallery family and look forward to celebrating his work for many more years to come,” Jones added.
Having just wrapped up another solo show, Samayoa will take a small break then get back into the studio.
“I’ll just try to have fun and not overthink. Maybe I’ll continue to try some new style or different techniques I don’t usually do. Or maybe even revisit some old ones,” he said. “I am looking forward to putting in more hard work and seeing what else is in store for me.”
For more information, visit his page on Instagram @wulffvnky.
