Press on her work from previous exhibits have been included in The Boston Globe Calendar and Sidekick, The Boston Phoenix, The Weekly Dig, Art New England, ArtScope, The Somerville News and The Somerville Journal. Susanne has recently started a mixed media arts and freelance illustration business under SCBartz. In addition, her collage playing card magnets, wine charms and mixed media necklaces are available at Magpie in Davis Square, Somerville, MA.

Artist Statement

On my desk sits a collage my sister Kim made me when I first moved to Boston in 1995 entitled, “Never Give Up”. A naked woman in cha-cha heels, red and black cartoon hair and staples for kneecaps dances by a moon and lemon-lime sprouting cactus. She holds a Christmas light adorned picture frame with an image of me at age 7, left fist punching forward and dressed in a bat girl costume I wore in a dance recital. Underneath carried off by wings are the words “Noteworthy” and “Full of Promise” flying over a set of feet encircled by the title, “Never Give Up.” Something clicked. I thought, this image, this language makes sense to me and soon my journey into art began.  

I’m fascinated with found objects, rusted tools and fixtures, keys, tin-types and incorporate objects such as these with drawings, written text and collage to create illustrative pieces that tell a story through color and texture. Reoccurring symbolism is found in a number of my pieces such as keys, wings and hearts to convey messages of strength, knowledge, wisdom and spiritual journey. My writing background has helped shape the focus and outcome of my art – there’s a constant hum of stories going around in my head just begging to come out visually. Growing up in Buffalo, NY – it’s rich historical and industrial background – and in a family that loves antiques and treasure hunting at garage sales and flee markets has had a large impact on the materials I use and the images I create.