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
Born in New York City, 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. Her work has been exhibited throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley. Barrett’s work cites a diverse group of inspirations from Magritte to Thiebaud to Hopper, believing “there are no formulas.” Her work is inquisitive, as she reimagines subjects using a collective library of photos and clippings as source material. Most recently her work was included in “The Indivisible Spectrum” at The Painting Center in Manhattan (2022). Barrett did her undergraduate work at Rhode Island School of Design and New York University (New York University, New York, NY; B.S. cum laude in fine arts). She received a M.A. in painting from Hunter College as well as a graduate degree in art education.
