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Susan Washington

Susan Washington


A strong narrative runs through Susan Washington's work with references to her long involvement with collage, textiles, fashion, and art. She comes from a family of artists and by age 5 Susan was tutored in the art of origami and Sumi ink drawing by her Japanese godmother as well as watercolors from her father. She spent her teens deconstructing dressmaking as a punk fashionista. Washington then landed on 5th Avenue working at Dior and Nautica.

Gravitating to the oeuvres of Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Joan Mitchell, Washington has continued to push boundaries, re-inventing her work with each new piece while continuing to maintain the cohesive thread that creates her signature look.

All artworks by artist



Susan Washington's work is infused with a compelling narrative that reflects her extensive engagement with collage, textiles, fashion, and art. Her artistic journey began at an early age, with lessons in origami and sumi ink drawing from her Japanese godmother, as well as watercolor instruction from her father when she was just five years old. During her teenage years, she deconstructed dressmaking as a punk fashion enthusiast. This path led her to 5th Avenue, where she worked at esteemed fashion houses like Dior and Nautica. In April 2021, Susan relocated to Baltimore, where she established a spacious studio on W. Pratt Street. In addition to her ongoing exploration of her 'Subway Sonnet' body of work, Susan frequently receives commissions for large-scale paintings and collaborates closely with designers on residential and hospitality design projects.

Gravitating to the oeuvres of Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Joan Mitchell, Washington has continued to push boundaries, re-inventing her work with each new piece while continuing to maintain the cohesive thread that creates her signature look.

“My work is inherently autobiographical.” says Washington. “My Subway Sonnet body of work feels as if they have been created by random collaboration in the same way public telephone booths and trains quickly filled up with stickers and graffiti. The surface is archaeological, stratified with graphic artifacts as some, previously placed, are torn away and others overlaid upon existing iconography. The picture plane is scratched and eroded and scrawled upon. Song lyrics and Shakespearean quotes share the same space with philosophy and street slang. There is rough poetry in the un-painterly rhythm and coarseness of this approach. I have tied together all the imagery and text to imbue each painting with a particular and specific mantra that ranges from “fame” and “success” to “love” and “prosperity”. I pay homage to post-war American art and the neo-expressionists.”

Washington incorporates icons from the world’s religions and philosophies, pictures torn from art and fashion magazines and references to lyrics from my favorite bands find their way onto the canvas. All paintings are created on canvas using oil paint, spray paint, and paper. Her work has been exhibited and collected internationally and has also been included in film and motion pictures including The Book Club with Diane Keaton, LA’s Finest, The Morning Show, and The Laundromat.
Susan Washington's work is infused with a compelling narrative that reflects her extensive engagement with collage, textiles, fashion, and art. Her artistic journey began at an early age, with lessons in origami and sumi ink drawing from her Japanese godmother, as well as watercolor instruction from her father when she was just five years old. During her teenage years, she deconstructed dressmaking as a punk fashion enthusiast. This path led her to 5th Avenue, where she worked at esteemed fashion houses like Dior and Nautica. In April 2021, Susan relocated to Baltimore, where she established a spacious studio on W. Pratt Street. In addition to her ongoing exploration of her 'Subway Sonnet' body of work, Susan frequently receives commissions for large-scale paintings and collaborates closely with designers on residential and hospitality design projects.

Gravitating to the oeuvres of Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and Joan Mitchell, Washington has continued to push boundaries, re-inventing her work with each new piece while continuing to maintain the cohesive thread that creates her signature look.

“My work is inherently autobiographical.” says Washington. “My Subway Sonnet body of work feels as if they have been created by random collaboration in the same way public telephone booths and trains quickly filled up with stickers and graffiti. The surface is archaeological, stratified with graphic artifacts as some, previously placed, are torn away and others overlaid upon existing iconography. The picture plane is scratched and eroded and scrawled upon. Song lyrics and Shakespearean quotes share the same space with philosophy and street slang. There is rough poetry in the un-painterly rhythm and coarseness of this approach. I have tied together all the imagery and text to imbue each painting with a particular and specific mantra that ranges from “fame” and “success” to “love” and “prosperity”. I pay homage to post-war American art and the neo-expressionists.”

Washington incorporates icons from the world’s religions and philosophies, pictures torn from art and fashion magazines and references to lyrics from my favorite bands find their way onto the canvas. All paintings are created on canvas using oil paint, spray paint, and paper. Her work has been exhibited and collected internationally and has also been included in film and motion pictures including The Book Club with Diane Keaton, LA’s Finest, The Morning Show, and The Laundromat.

EXHIBITIONS

2024        Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY, USA

                Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA, USA

2017-23   Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA, USA

2021    Boom! Nitro Gallery

Art She Says | Solo Exhibition

Affordable Art Fair | Muriel Guepin

414 Light Exhibition

Spring Exhibit at Muriel Guepin Gallery NYC

2019    SOFA CHICAGO with Inspired Interiors

            Affordable Art Fair NYC

            Market Art & Design | Hamptons NY

            White Room Gallery | All The Pieces

  2018    Banana Factory Arts Center Bethlehem, PA

            Lachaise Gallery at Cedar Crest University

Connexions Gallery Easton, PA

            Brick & Mortar Gallery Easton, PA

2017    Affordable Art Fair New York, NY

2016    Cherry Bomb, Brick and Mortar Gallery

            Esquina NYC

            Threads, Solo Exhibition, Connexions Gallery, Easton PA

            Abstract Five, Castle Inn Gallery, Delaware Water Gap, PA

            Good Company, Brick and Mortar Gallery    

 

 

PRIVATE/CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:
David Hoey, Owner DENK Gallery, LA
Michael Daks,  Paris College of Art, formerly Parsons Paris
Istituto Marangoni
Santa Bannon -   Santa Bannon Fine Art
Russel Marisak, NYC Theater
Peter Stastny, A&C Museum Texas

 

TV & FILM

LA’s Finest, Sony

The Morning Show, Apple TV+

The Laundromat, Netflix

Home Economics, ABC