Artist Statement

"My paintings reflect an ongoing evolution of who I am— a deeply personal, abstract exploration of triumph, heartbreak, and love. Inspired by the organic patterns and shifting palettes of nature, my process is a freestyle expression of memories and raw emotion. Every canvas develops intuitively, layering forms and colors much like the unique progression of a sunrise or sunset. I create art not just to express my own world, but to engage the viewer’s imagination. In doing so, the audience shifts from observer to participant, creating an intimate, lasting bond with the artwork."

About Saumolia

Saumolia Puapuaga was born in San Diego, California in 1983. He spent his formative years growing up in Hawaii on the island of Oahu, in the neighborhood of Kalihi.  In 2006 Saumolia began honing his artistic abilities at Kapi'olani Community College and ultimately transferred to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in 2012. Saumolia’s artwork reflects his travels, personal experiences, and cultural integrity as a first generation Samoan American artist. He currently resides near the beautiful shores of Hau'ula, Hawaii where he can be found studying the water, playing with his dog Hula and working in his studio.

Mission

Art by Saumolia seeks to celebrate the beauty of island living through the divine power of visual arts, promoting awareness and appreciation of art within Pacific Island communities.

In the press

  • Midweek | 2022

    We have heard much about
    pairing food and wine, but restaurant owner Kazutomo Robert Hori, a former Japanese entrepreneur and champion car racer, has now paired fine art and
    food...

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  • Honolulu Magazine | 2021

    With his warm smile, a sparkle in his eyes and friendly personality, Saumolia Puapuaga breathes new life into the Hawai‘i State Art Museum’s former gift shop space as HiSAM’s first artist-in-residence for Passion On Display...

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  • Donkey Mill Art Center | 2023

    If you walk into the Mill’s gallery right now, you’ll be greeted by a striking portrait. A lovely silver-haired couple meet your gaze, while behind them, the Pacific ocean dances in abstraction. Who are they?

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  • Halekulani Living | 2023

    For Saumolia Puapuaga, life during the Covid-19 pandemic has been transformative. For all the pain and anxiety that quarantine and isolation initially brought, it was also an opportunity for the artist to truly be alone with himself. It meant coming to terms with “the deeper beauty of myself”...

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  • Shoutout LA | 2022

    "We had the good fortune of connecting with Saumolia Puapuaga and we’ve shared our conversation below..."

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  • Art Report Today | 2023

    "Puapuaga paints to honor his identity and interpret his culture. His work, like many of those in the show, proudly puts Polynesia at the center of his world..."

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