Artist's Statement
“My paintings explore the themes of time, place and transformation. I weave together images from different sources, intertwine different views of the same subject, and explore the mysteries of memory. Though I reference American Realism, I am also influenced by Surrealism and Pop Art--all representing the ordinary as extraordinary.
I develop a bond with my subjects, often creating a series of works based on the same place or structure. I attach meaning to the inanimate world, houses become bystanders to a drama of sorts, as I elevate urban/suburban landscapes into psychological portraits.
Because in our contemporary experience we are inundated with a staccato barrage of imagery, I approach image-making in a very eclectic way from a large library of personal photographs and clippings. I collage my photos digitally or with scissors and glue, creating composites that I paint from. I may also cut pieces of these paintings and combine them by mounting them on cradled panels. The synthesis may be subtle or presented as an open dialogue as in a diptych. The context I create through the juxtaposition of my subjects is fundamental to my practice.”
artist's bio
Susan Barrett
Susan Barrett is a painter and mixed-media artist whose work explores themes of time, place and transformation. She works primarily in acrylics and watercolor as well as constantly experimenting with mixed media techniques. Though influenced by an American realist tradition, she also draws upon Surrealism and Pop art. Her practice is inquisitive, as she reinvents subjects using a collective library of photos and clippings as source material. Born in New York City in 1955, Barrett first studied at Rhode Island School of Design and New York University (B.S. cum laude fine arts) then Hunter College (M.A. painting). Her work has been widely exhibited in New York City and throughout the Hudson Valley including The Painting Center (NYC), BAU (Beacon NY), Trolley Barn Gallery (Poughkeepsie NY) and Edward Hopper Museum and Art Center (Nyack NY). She lives and works in the Hudson Valley.