Samantha Obman

Artist | Aspiring Archivist | Librarian

About

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Photography and the Domestic Space
Trauma and Digital Archives
Zines and Zine Culture
Folk History, Art, and Ritual
Family, Working Class, and Rural ArchivesMuch of my research has explored the connection between photography and domestic spaces, focusing on themes like everyday rituals, the portrayal of home through images, and the role of photographs and objects as family archives. This interest led me to Library and Information Science, where I aim to develop expertise in archive and information management. My goal is to help organize and preserve data for public use, making information accessible to all.A central part of my approach is to make archives and libraries more accessible, breaking down elitism and removing barriers to information. I'm committed to creating inclusive spaces by curating collections that reflect diverse narratives and perspectives. I believe that knowledge should be accessible to everyone, and want to ensure that underrepresented histories are preserved and made available to those who need them. This includes working with communities to co-create collections that truly represent their identities and experiences.My most recent work was a poster presentation at the 2024 Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting. The work is titled Ethical Digitization: Centering Trauma-Informed Principles in Digital Archival Practice.EDUCATION
MA in Library and Information Science, Certificate in Special Collections
University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA, USA
2025
MFA in Photography
Belfast School of Art | Belfast, UK
2020
BA in Studio Art
Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
2014Get in touch!

Contact

Feel free to reach out. I'm focused on a career in archives and librarianship and am open to collaborating on related projects and ideas, as well as exploring creative work in photography. I look forward to hearing from you.

Currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
[email protected]