Suzanne Siegel

My work is about curiosity. I begin in a state of searching and wondering, of not knowing. As a work progresses, I aim for a satisfying balance between spontaneity and intentionality, freedom and structure, chaos and rationality. I am inspired and feel the most alive in places where land meets sky and ocean. Walking near water is my muse, and I enjoy the sounds, smells, and visual excitement of rugged working harbors and the shallow waves at edge of the ocean. I spend a long time looking, to find what moves me. I intently observe shapes, values, textures, and colors, along with the beauty of light and how it influences and constantly changes everything. In the studio, I begin by drawing random lines and shapes, and quickly erase or thinly veil most of my first marks, in order to keep myself curious and the work in flux as I build a history of layers. I aim to transport myself and the viewer into a moment of surprising and unknown beauty, as I work toward a strong, open arrangement of visual elements.

2004 MFA, Visual Art, Vermont College, Montpelier, VT
2001 BFA, Painting, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT. Stobart Award for excellence in painting
1997 BA, Psychology, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT. Magna Cum Laude
1995-6 Yale University, New Haven, CT