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Carl Sammons Biography

Born in Kearney, Nebraska on May 9, 1883.  Sammons began his art studies in Sioux City, Iowa, while working as a sign painter.  He moved to northern California in 1913.  Settling in Oakland, he traveled extensively throughout California while studying at the CSFA.

By the mid-1920s he had abandoned somber pastels in favor of plein air oils. He made painting trips to the Monterey Peninsula, Russian River, Palm Springs, Humboldt County, and Santa Barbara. Sammons died in Oakland on Feb. 4, 1968.

Today his representational landscapes and coastal scenes are highly sought after by collectors.

Exhibited: Calif. Industrial Expo (SF), 1923, 1926; Berkeley League of FA, 1925; Claremont Hotel (Berkeley), 1926; Alameda AA, 1920s; Calif. Industries Expo (San Diego), 1926; Santa Barbara Art League, 1928-30; Casa de Mañana (Berkeley), 1928-31; Courvoisier Galllery (SF), 1931, 1933; Haggin Museum (Stockton), 1931; Tahoe Tavern (Lake Tahoe), 1931, 1933; Crocker Museum (Sacramento), 1957; AAPL, 1940; Desert Inn (Palm Springs), 1939-41; GGIE, 1940; Alameda Co. Fair, 1957; Smithsonian Inst. Bicentennial, 1976; Nevada Museum (Reno), 1993; St Mary’s College (Moraga), 1997; Carnegie Museum (Oxnard) 1998; Irvine (CA) College, 2000.

In: Santa Barbara Museum; De Young Museum; Muir Medical Center (Walnut Creek); Grace Museum (Abilene, TX).

Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Interview with the artist or his/her family; Census; California Arts and Architecture list, 1932; Oakland Tribune, 2-5-1968 (obituary).