Susan Grace
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
AQ Volume IV Artist Susan Grace is a contemporary figurative oil painter based in Lawrence, Kansas, whose work explores the female figure through surreal, distorted realism. Her academic background in literature and theater, including years teaching in the U.S. and at The American College of Greece, continues to shape her layered, narrative-driven paintings. Grace describes her figures as participants in "unfinished dramas" that embody transformation, fluid identity, and a refusal of resolution.
Her work has been widely exhibited at galleries and museums across the U.S., such as the La Luz De Jesus Gallery (Los Angeles), Wichita Art Museum (Kansas), and Weinberger Fine Art (Kansas City).
https://www.susangracestudio.com/
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
My transition from academic to artist was gradual. I always painted for pleasure but pursued English literature and theater in university. During my postgraduate years teaching in Athens, I was inspired by local artists to deepen my studio practice. Returning to the U.S., I balanced teaching with painting before dedicating myself to art full-time. This journey taught me the value of experimentation without the pressure of income, and I now relish the freedom and challenges of a disciplined studio practice.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My art is rooted in the female figure, shifting between abstraction and representation. I incorporate geometric and organic forms, blending them to create transformative, layered compositions. My current series focuses on female figures gazing directly at viewers, evoking vitality and inviting narrative interpretations. I imagine these figures as autonomous beings in evolving dramas, thriving in their constructed worlds without resolution.
What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?
The biggest challenge in my journey has been balancing the isolation of studio work with meaningful connections in the art community. Studio visits, local art openings, and engaging with online artist networks like the Visionary Art Collective have helped me build a supportive network while staying creatively fulfilled.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
Experimentation defines my practice. I start with representational drawings and intuitively overlay geometric or organic shapes. The interplay of concealment and revelation transforms the figure into new contexts, keeping the process unpredictable and invigorating.
Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?
My mornings start with a long, meditative walk that fuels creative ideas. Back in the studio, I write these thoughts in my notebook, then immerse myself in drawing or painting. Revisiting my notes later helps guide future series, providing structure to my creative freedom.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
Art that stirs emotion or transports me from the mundane world inspires me. I see my figures as actors on a stage, creating their own worlds and roles. Sharing this inner world with viewers drives me to continue painting.
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
Two quotes guide me:
Gustave Flaubert: “Be settled in your life and as ordinary as the bourgeois, in order to be fierce and original in your works.”
Georgia O’Keeffe: “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do.”
I do not see these statements as contradictory. The sources of fear may vary as one gets older, but there are always challenges and obstacles to overcome.
