SUSAN COOPER

In both my public art and my studio art perspective is the priority. More viewpoint than appearance, each piece is perceived from a particular vantage point. One’s point of view is constantly reinvented because time and position continually change. The formal elements of art, just like the critical aspects of life, are never the same twice.

The studio work is my personal view of the world, frequently expressed through familiar objects. I strive to visually or conceptually connect contemporary views to history and to nature. I also work to combine two and three dimensions. Two-dimensional images create illusions of depth, while three-dimensional art is typically object oriented. Combining the two affords me the opportunity to build illusion out of objects and objects out of painting, thereby creating a paradox. This contradiction of dimension mimics our imaginations, perceptions and feelings on one hand and our lives and activities on the other.

Each public art project takes me into a new world, broadening my experiences and offering greater depth to my work. My public art is strongly site specific and each piece is different ranging from murals to freestanding sculpture. Although highly conceptual, the art always refers to history and the nature of the site or situation. I collaborate with professionals from every discipline - architects, engineers, developers and public administrators.

The media choice is determined by the concept and location of the art. I work in steel, copper, aluminum, concrete, wood, oil and acrylic paint, ceramics, glass, plastics, granite and light media.

My work can be found at universities, hospitals, parks, museums, theatres, an armory, a police station, the Denver City & County Building, transportation systems and stations, a garage, and in several private collections. Each installation is unique and adds to my understanding. This is reflected in the palette, perspective, light and shadow of each piece of my artwork.