SAN JOSE, CALIF.- In his first solo institutional exhibition, Blood Be Water, Esteban Raheem Abdul Raheem Samayoa presents an immersive installation featuring new airbrushed paintings, charcoal drawings, oil pastels, and ceramics. Drawing from muralism, street art, and Latin American folk traditions, Samayoa constructs a visually striking, deeply personal exploration of heritage, identity, and transformation.
The exhibition’s title challenges the saying “blood is thicker than water,” which prioritizes familial bonds over chosen relationships. Instead, Blood Be Water reflects on the power of community as a form of family, questioning how we are all shaped by both lineage and lived experience. Inspired by the biblical act of turning water into wine, Samayoa sees transformation as a sacred force—one that allows individuals to redefine themselves despite inherited circumstances.
Samayoa’s monochromatic airbrushed paintings and charcoal works possess an ethereal, almost ghostly quality, evoking memories, ancestral ties, and shifting identities. His ceramics and mixed-media pieces incorporate raw textures and organic materials, grounding the exhibition in physicality and tradition. Together, these works form an environment that blurs the boundaries between past, present, and future, inviting viewers into a space of reflection and communal dialogue.
At its core, Blood Be Water is about resilience—the ability to pull through adversity, to embrace change, and build connections that transcend bloodlines. Through his art, Samayoa creates a space where personal and collective histories intersect, fostering a sense of belonging and self-understanding.
Blood Be Water is curated by Zoë Latzer, Curator and Director of Public Programs with special help from Sam Marks and Paul Gallo. Blood Be Water at the ICA San José is made possible thanks to lead sponsorship from John Green and Martin Fox, along with support from Brook Hartzell and Tad Freese, Pamela and David Hornik. Programs and exhibitions at the ICA are made possible with thanks to generous support from the City of San José’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the San Francisco Foundation; significant support from Applied Materials, the Lipman Family Foundation, and Yvonne and Mike Nevens; along with additional support from SVCreates. In-kind support has been provided by Benjamin Moore paints.
Esteban Abdul Raheem Samayoa (b. 1994, Sacramento, CA) is a Mexican-Guatemalan artist based in Oakland, CA, whose practice is a profound exploration of cultural heritage, identity, and transformation. Working across charcoal, painting, ceramics, and installation, Samayoa’s work captures intimate moments of nostalgia and resilience, drawing from personal and communal histories. His mastery of black and white charcoal drawings serves as the foundation of his practice, rendering evocative scenes that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. Beyond monochrome, he embraces vibrant color and rich textures, incorporating materials like burlap, plaster, and soil—elements that pay homage to his Guatemalan roots and the tactile nature of memory.
Samayoa’s work extends beyond self-reflection; it is a means of forging connections. By channeling personal experiences into visual storytelling, he creates spaces for dialogue, healing, and collective understanding. His art is not just a testament to his own journey but an invitation for others to see themselves within it—a celebration of community, transformation, and the enduring power of self-expression.
