Born in Wellington but raised in Dunedin, Sam Foley graduated from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art in 1998 and has been working full time as an artist since. He has held exhibitions throughout New Zealand and Australasia with works held in many public and private collections. Foley has won numerous awards, including most recently The Peoples Choice Award at the 17th Annual Wallace Art Awards. In 2007 Foley spent 10 weeks on a research and development trip through the UK, Nothern and Western Europe. Whilst there he visited over 30 Public Art Galleries, the Venice Biennale, and Documenta in Kassel, Germany. He also is co-owner of the NZ design store, Whiteroom, found in Moray Place, Dunedin.

Sam currently manages, works and lives in an artist run studio complex, the Dowling St Studios, in Dunedin Central. He is planning a 6 month move to Berlin in 2012 where he will continue to develop his practice as an artist.