Susan Handau

I create abstract works that reflect the quiet beauty of change—how nature weathers, softens, and transforms over time. My process is rooted in layering, cutting, and rebuilding, allowing each piece to carry a sense of history, fragility, and resilience.

Texture is central to my work. Through acrylic, ink, plaster, and stitched elements, I build surfaces that invite a closer look—echoing the worn landscapes and aging environments that inspire me. These pieces are not fixed moments, but evolving conversations about time, memory, and what endures.

My series My Tribe: In Our Aging World deepens this exploration, honoring the shared human experience of aging with sensitivity and strength.

I hope my work offers a place of reflection—something both grounded and quietly transformative.
I currently live and work in Reno, Nevada

I completed a BA in Art History at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1997. In 2000, I spent a wonderful year touring through Europe expanding my art history knowledge.

I have exhibited widely in group and curated shows across Nevada and beyond. I was included in Heart of Reno at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and most recently in Brushes with Greatness at Reno International Airport through Sierra Arts Foundation.

Other exhibitions include Led by Vision at Sierra Arts Foundation, Landscapes of Nevada at Nevada Fine Arts Gallery, and the Hawaiʻi Nei Exhibition at Wailoa Center in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. My work has also been shown at The Annex Gallery, McKinley Galleries East, and St. Mary’s Art Center in Virginia City.

In addition to gallery exhibitions, I was featured on PBS’s ARTEFFECTS (Season 6, Episode 614) and have participated in community-based projects including Doors to Recovery.