Susan Ullman
Susan Ullman
Susan Ullman, born in Tennessee, has resided in New York City for most of her life. She has travelled extensively and has developed an appreciation of other ethnic groups and their art as it relates to their culture. Mexican, American Indian, and Japanese art have had a strong influence on her art from an early age.
Ullman holds an MFA at Columbia University. She also studied at the Art Students' League where she was inspired by several well known artists, including Matisse, Chagall and Klee. From an early age, the artist recalls having a love of paper and the collage effect. Ullman also derives her inspiration from a deep desire to retain a sense of magic and fantasy within her life. She translates these sensibilities through her use of hand made papers and various paints and pastels to creat a colorful, rhythmic environment. She defies tradition by stretching her materials beyond conventional limits. Ullman's papers are superimposed on a painted background, and layered to evoke a magical, dream-like, dimensional effect. She is playful with her materials and is not afraid to take risks.
Ullman has a background in dance. She is also an accomplished ceramic artist, professional baker, and a published poet. Ullman has developed her own style of colorful movement and magical imagery. Her work has been exhibited extensively both in the United States and abroad, and has appeared in museums, private corporate collections, and galleries.
Artist Statement
My work incorporates the use of handmade paper, pastels, metallic powder, acrylic paints and pearlescent pigments. By combining these mediums to produce works of paper collage, I can achieve some depth to the surface as well as a broad spectrum of color and design. I enjoy the relationship of space to form and I utilize color to achieve this. What distinguishes my work is the quality of texture.
My own personal need for immediacy allows me to create work on paper that reflects some sense of freedom and spontaneity. My artistic concerns lie primarily with exploring the imagination and the world of dreams.
I am also concerned with creating fantasy, which is often void in our daily lives. Through the use of vibrant color juxtapositions and the use of paints, my work takes on a magical aura that is intended to allow the viewer a personalized response to fantasy.
Having experienced life on a more somber note, my art is about allowing the more upbeat moments to exist and to flourish. Ultimately, it is my hope that these moments can be incorporated into our daily lives.