Artist's Statement
To create is to be an active participant in life.
Suzan's textile paintings are a collaboration of traditional quilting and contemporary fiber arts. The juxtaposition of the human hand and technology is evident in the design and execution of her art quilts combining custom designs printed on fabric, unique textiles, machine quilting, and hand painted fabrics.
With repetition of the most simple of marks, the circle and line, Suzan is exploring change and transition, texture and color, flow and resist.
Bio
Suzan holds degrees in Computer Science and Business Administration, as well as a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. When not creating art quilts, Suzan is a Senior Designer at PDR, an architecture firm in Houston, Texas. Suzan has taught art at the University of Houston, exhibited her work galleries and participated in the International Fiber Initiative. Her art work is included in private collections in the United States and Great Britain. Suzan is available for commission work and may be reached at suzan@suzanengler.com.
Résumé
Education
1997 MFA, University of Houston, Houston, TX
1985 BS in Business Administration, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
Professional experience
1999 - Present Textile Artist, Panorama Village, TX
1996 - 2010 Senior Interior Architectural Designer, PDR Architects, Houston TX
1995 - 1997 Art Teacher, University of Houston School of Art, Houston, TX
1985 - 1993 Senior Computer Systems Analyst, Amoco Production Co., Houston TX
1979 - 1981 Owner and Manager, Sue’s House of Decorating, Claremore, OK
1976 - 1979 Seamstress and Stained Glass Artist, Claremore, OK
Exhibitions
2010 ‘simply irRESISTible’, some things looming, Reading, PA
2010 Great Explorations Children's Museum, St. Petersburg, FL.
2010 International Fiber Initiative, Dream Rocket, Huntsville, AL
2009 International Fiber Initiative, Earlyworks Children’s Museum, Huntsville, AL
1997 Blaffer Gallery, Houston, TX
Suzan's Introduction to Fiber Arts
Suzan’s first fiber art was an act of desperation. Having left a career in Information Technology to follow her dreams and study Fine Arts she realized that some drawing would be involved. However when the final project for the Drawing 101 class was a self-portrait, she knew that just another charcoal portrait was not the right answer.
The instructor did not mandate the medium so she turned to fabric to “draw” the final project. After years of sewing garments, fabric was a comfortable and intuitive tool. Black and white fabrics were pieced together creating a background reminiscent of drawing paper and charcoal; fused images formed the portrait. The instructor was intrigued with this unique approach and Suzan received high marks for the class. Most importantly, the door to the fiber arts was opened.