Artist Kevin Sampson is based in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood, where you can often find him creating his found-object sculptures in his friend Ron Nitti's custom woodworking shop. Kevin always wanted to be an artist, but for 18 years was in the police force, where he trained as a sketch artist.

This summer Mystic Seaport Museum inaugurated its artist residency program with leading American artist, Kevin Sampson of Newark, New Jersey. Beginning in June, Sampson was embedded at the museum, living aboard a vessel docked at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard, and fully engaged with our community in the lead-up to an exhibition of his work.