Susan Carson

My work grows out of an interest in simplification and perception, and in the space between abstraction and representation. Organizing visual information is central to my process.
My painting practice began with portraiture. Initially focused on capturing likeness, I developed an increasingly deliberate and reductive approach. Backgrounds became fields of solid color, and compositions were simplified, sometimes including only part of a face. As I became more conscious of the impact of color, I began to see areas within my portraits as potential paintings in their own right.
Abstraction felt like a natural progression. My background in graphic design continues to inform my practice, particularly in my use of both digital and hands-on tools to create and develop my work. My abstract work has ranged from balancing geometric structures with spontaneous gestures, to developing precisely controlled compositions. Throughout, I've explored how relationships between color and form can alter perception, create spatial ambiguity, and leave room for interpretation.
I live and work in Connecticut. My paintings have been exhibited in juried and group exhibitions and are held in private collections.

BA in Art History and Urban Studies, Boston University

Greenwich Art Society (CT), Annual Juried Exhibition, (Juror: Caitlin Chaisson, Curatorial Assistant of Painting and Sculpture at MoMA), 2026

Connecticut Women Artists Annual Members Open Juried Exhibition, Art League of New Britain, Farmington, CT, 2025, 2026

Fluid Media Winter 2025 Exhibition: Art is Crucial, Live on Artsy, 2026

Canton Artists Guild, 57th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, 2025

Connecticut Women Artists National Open Juried Exhibition, The William Benton Museum of Art, UConn, 2025; Slater Memorial Museum 2024

Chester Gallery Postcard Show, Chester Gallery, Chester, CT, December 2024

ODETTA Digital, Postcards to Venice (an ongoing exhibition), Hashtag Gallery, Mexico; Palazzo Pisani Revedin, Venice, Works available on Artsy, 2024

ODETTA Digital, Nature’s Way, Exclusively on Artsy, Fall 2023 - Winter 2024

ODETTA Digital II | Exquisite Codes Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2023

Black, White and Shades of Gray, Stamford Art Association & Townhouse Gallery, Stamford, CT, 2023

Susan Carson: Abstract Realism - Reflections, Objects & Faceless Portraits, The Art Gallery at Shutter Speed Photo, Middlebury, CT, 2023

Harriet Pattison: Gardens & Landscapes (portrait of Harriet), Harvey & Irwin Kroiz Gallery,...