Amber Skies: A Susan Swartz Solo Exhibition

At the entrance of the gallery hangs a powerful red monochromatic canvas from the Breaking Away series. Adjacent, two works from the Nature’s Bouquet and Nature’s Harvest series are stacked, their thick petals of paint evoking blossoms in warm, autumn-inspired hues. A square painting titled Afterlight follows, where rich purples reveal a golden glow beneath the surface.

Prominently featured is Evolution of Nature 14, a heavily textured work embedded with natural elements that radiates the depth and warmth of autumn. The Evolution of Nature series represents a pivotal moment in Susan’s bold artistic evolution, a journey closely tied to her pursuit of optimal health. Incorporating dried flora, herbs, and other nutrient-rich materials, the series transforms the canvas into opulent yet playful sculptural surfaces.

Two large 6x6' paintings from the Breaking Away series hang side by side, their soft gray and earth-toned surfaces built up through rich layers of texture. Nearby, a fresh purple orchid arrangement by Hayden Hull of Lamb’s Ear Floral Design creates a striking dialogue between paint and bloom.

On the back of the moveable wall hangs Evolution of Nature 31, its affixed natural elements evocative of fallen leaves. Beside it is Emerging Bouquet 48, a rich burgundy composition where floral forms subtly take shape. Completing the grouping is Fall Muse, a radiant golden canvas with red shimmering through from its underpainted layers.

Mid-gallery, three 6x6' paintings from the Natural Flux series are displayed together. Their white surfaces, built up with translucent layers of glaze, create an icy effect that evokes the first frost of the season and the heavy winter snow soon to blanket the Wasatch Mountains.

At the far end of the gallery hangs Field of Poppies, a vibrant burst of red. Beside it is a grid of 12x12" monochromatic works from the Petals & Pollen, Synthesis, and Rhapsody series. Bright and cheerful, these paintings draw inspiration from the flowers grown in Swartz's own gardens. Nature’s Abundance offers another interpretation of florals, its bold daubs of paint suggesting petals in bloom. Completing the grouping is a luminous yellow work from the Breaking Away series.

In all of Swartz’s work, lush textures and brilliant color are a focus when expressing her internal landscape. Swartz paints to communicate her mission - that the natural world and all its beauty needs to be cherished, shared, and protected.

 

Swartz's paintings have been featured in major solo exhibitions at Georges Bergès Gallery in NYC; Jason McCoy Gallery in NYC; Galerie Noack in Berlin; the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing; the Manetti Shrem Museum at UC Davis in California; the Russian State Museum in St. Petersburg; the Ludwig Museum in Budapest; the Ludwig Museum in Koblenz; Kollegienkirche in Salzburg; the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC; the Utah Museum of Fine Arts in Salt Lake City; and the Springville Museum in Springville, Utah. Swartz was also shiwcased at the Venice Biennale in 2024 and Art Miami in 2023. Her work is featured in numerous private and public collections around the world. She is represented by Georges Bergès Gallery in New York City. Swartz paints from studios in Park City and Martha’s Vineyard.

 

 

Visit Susan Swartz Studios at 260 Main Street in Park City, open 12-7PM daily.