(b. 1978, Cowichan, Coast Salish)

lessLIE is the decolonized name of Leslie Robert Sam, a Coast Salish artist from the Cowichan tribes. He works in a variety of media, but is best known for his serigraph prints. His artwork draws on traditional iconographic elements and often adds contemporary titles or text infused with humour and irony.

While working on his undergraduate degree in 1995 lessLIE began studying Coast Salish art and continued this focus with graduate work at the University of Victoria. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nations Studies from Malaspina University-College and has done graduate work in Interdisciplinary Studies at UVic. He recently branched out with curatorial projects including guest curating, writing and lectures and has exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Photo by Justine Auben Drummond