Susan Roche

Susan is an artist working at the intersection of underwater photography and encaustic painting, creating ethereal, layered works that explore the space between presence and dissolution.

Her practice began in the darkroom at eighteen, following a childhood immersed in making—painting, sewing, and working with ceramics. She went on to build a successful career as a portrait photographer, developing a deep understanding of the human form and its emotional language.

A pivotal turning point came after Superstorm Sandy flooded her oceanfront gallery and home. In its aftermath, she turned toward the water—not as subject alone, but as environment and collaborator. This shift marked the beginning of her underwater work.

Each piece begins with original underwater photography, then evolves through a process of layering oils, pastels, and encaustic wax. The surfaces are worked, softened, and fused, creating a luminous veil where the figure is both revealed and obscured. Light fractures across the imagery, echoing the fluid, ever-changing nature of water.

Drawing on mythological references and the archetypal feminine, her work explores themes of transformation, surrender, and the unseen forces that shape us. The figures exist in a suspende...

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Communication from Monmouth University, NJ. She has extensive study in fine and applied arts.

Selected Exhibitions

2022–2025
Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Bridgehampton, NY

2022
Pollux Awards – International Recognition

2022–2023
The Art of Healing (Juried Exhibition)
Englewood Health, NJ