Suzanne Wright is an artist and an assistant professor in painting at the University of Iowa School of art and art history. She earned her BFA at Cooper Union and MFA at the University of California San Diego and also attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Wright’s paintings, drawings, and collages propose a contemporary "feminist alchemy", forging alternative frames of reference and symbology, with new perspectives that attempt to lead us to a re-vitalized kind of perception, equality, and empowerment.
Her exhibition record includes shows at Stephen Friedman Gallery (London), Wilding Cran Gallery (LA). Commonwealth and Council (LA) Luis De Jesus(LA), Stefan Stux (NY), Claire Oliver Gallery (NY), and a most recent solo exhibition “The Alchemy of Equals” at Tappeto Volante projects (NY). She was awarded the Kraus Visiting Professorship in Painting and Drawing at Carnegie Mellon and has taught at several universities in New York and Los Angeles, and was the Grant Wood Fellow in Painting (2019/20) at the University of Iowa.
Wright was one of the co-founders of Fierce Pussy, has been an active member of various AIDS and LGBTQ organizations, including ACT UP/New York from 1989-1999. She has an upcoming solo show in Los Angeles (Wilding Can Gallery) in 2026.
"Art, activism and collectives have profoundly shaped my understanding of the systemic nature of discrimination and oppression, as well as the ways in which art can be a tactic of resistance and has the potential to change habitual perspective and consciousness. Much of my artwork has been inspired by the paradigm shift that has taken place since 9-11 and the Election day of 2016, which I call “the psychological 9-11”. My practice has centered on both the negative and positive sides of social authority & control. Carl Jung philosophy calls it: “the shadow” the deep journey of interiority, truth, and psychology. When a person has the willingness to look at their own “darkness” this can then lead to a change in this habitual discussion we have with our negative internal dialogue. The paradoxical truth of the psyche is that to ascend - we must go down first. I now have to add in the election day of 2024, which was still an unexpected shift what I thought would be a shift in our lives, the 1st woman president and the decision of the majority to denied someone running for president who was an overt racist and sexist. My newest show The Alchemy of equals was created from 2022- 2024 , right up until the election, in fact we timed the opening to be right during the November election of 2024. This work is completely about my self as a feminist here and now…what does that mean? How can I affect change in any way as an artists that shows in a white cube? I am a feminist artist within a complex socio-political environment, viewing alchemy not solely as mystical transformation but as a dynamic process of socio-political engagement. Inspired by theorists like Judith Butler, who notes that “Gender is an identity tenuously constituted in time… through a stylized repetition of acts, my art work/ newest paintings encourages viewers to reflect on how gender and identity are intertwined within social structures and symbols of power. Central to my themes in “ The Alchemy of Equals” (my newest solo endeavor, I am trying to re-envisioning of iconic American monuments from a contemporary feminist perspective, these ,traditionally masculine and patriotic symbols—from an alchemical perspective. In the painting Goddess Eye View and God’s Eye View series, I attempt to reinterpret the Washington Monument, a symbol of phallic power, Instead of looking up at the phallus monument - I look down from a goddess eye view - and Ariel perspective, equalizing the monument and hosting it as a space of resilience and equality. Aerial perspectives, informed by Washington D.C.’s “secret architecture” and Google Earth’s views, reveal cosmological alignments and zodiacs that cast new meanings on these monuments. This approach echoes the work of feminist artist Mary Beth Edelson, who sought to “reclaim the spiritual” by emphasizing symbols that challenge patriarchal and heteronormative assumptions. In addition to my paintings, I have continued a series of sculptures titled Faggot Bundles, which is an exploration of the word “faggot” and its reclamation. These sculptures—cast branches arranged in mandala-like circles—reference the word’s 16th-century original meaning, “bundles of sticks,” used to describe senior women or “Old maids” while creating powerful symbols of unity and resilience. I see them as tributes to “the beautiful and courageous gay men I loved and lost,” transforming a once-derogatory term into a symbol of community. This work aligns with the practices of feminist artists like Harmony Hammond, whose art addresses queer identity and reclamation through material and form."
Tell us a little about yourself (where you are from) and your background in the arts.
I just closed a solo show at wonderful and pioneering gallery, Tappeto Volante in Brooklyn NY, The show was called "the Alchemy of Equals" (2024) and was a continuation of 3 major painting series I started in 2016, just weeks after the election of Trump. This election and MAGA movement marks a paradigm shift for our nation and the beginning of the erosion of women's rights(once again). The show that was a conceptual turning point for me and has informed my last two solo shows was called "Feminist Alchemy"(2019), this was in another fantastic and innovative gallery, Wilding Cran Gallery, in Los Angeles.
When I think about my background in the arts, I think back to when I was young, I have always been an artist in my heart and a turning point in my life as an artist was going to Cooper Union (for my BFA) which I believe saved my life to a certain degree. My dad wanted me to enlist in ROTC - which was the army on weekend's because we could not afford for me to go to any of the places I was accepted - accept one - Cooper Union, which is a scholarship school.
I have been a queer and AIDS activist for many years of my life, I predominantly lived in NY and Los Angeles teaching and showing as an artist, I now find myself working as a professor in one of the "reddest" states in the country - IOWA - but perhaps that is actually where I can be the most effective at this moment in time. I certainly love the BFA and MFA students I work with.
Sculpture and mold making is my second love after painting.I have worked for many years as a fabricator for some amazing artists, Robert Gober and Nicole Eisenman, This is where I was able to produce works in all different mediums, I am proudly a materials nerd - If I don't know how to make something, I will find out how - and then make it!
Lastly, i curate shows, This is very much a part of my practice - I absolutely love creating venues for other artist. I just curated (In December) had a reading/performances call "Fairies at Sunset" (round 2) at the amazing Gallery "Tappeto Volante" in Brooklyn NY, , the 1st curation/happening was in 2022, and I am presently working on curating a show called "AmazoNight"(round 2) which highlights the work of many "kick Ass" amazon woman warrior artists. I also consider artist pioneers by nature and I encourage all people who are even remotely interested in making art to do so - in whatever capacity.
What kind of work are you currently making?
My work centers around a theme that I call "feminist Alchemy" this theme or what I would like to become a movement. What does alchemy look like painted? How as an individual do I affect change in anyway? I am by nature, a political junkie, and therefore listen to the news in the morning and in the evening every day, especially in anticipation of this coming election.
My newest painting #feministAlchemy I worked everyday in my home studio, 2 to 3 hours at a time no matter what day it was, and no matter what I was doing work wise, this piece took me two months to complete - and the colors carry with it the intensity of my thoughts at the time. When I finished this painting I wrote on the back, will this be the year of our 1st woman president? All of the colors in this piece are all meticulously planned and mixed depending what part of the architecture i was looking at of the pentagon. I’ve been a feminist my whole life. I’ve been arrested seven times, I’m a professor of painting yet I still question my ability to make a difference and effect change.
While physical alchemy deals with altering and transforming the properties in the physical world with this piece and others, I use color and geometry, geometry to grapple with my moral disillusion of our current time. I also should note that when we tour my home and faculty studio, my newest work is located in New York, so you will be viewing older work, but with some of the same themes from the series I have been working on since 2016. Alchemy, gay rights, and reshaping perspective, both physically and mentally.
What is a day like in the studio for you?
A studio day is a luxury for me at this point, as I am a full time professor at University of Iowa School of Art, but I find time to make my work whenever possible, I am extremely extroverted as a friend or person, but the opposite when it comes to making work, and as I grow older, I isolate and make work to help sooth my soul and to continue my activist thoughts, I may not have such an extreme visual dialogue as I once had as an LGBTQ activist: "YOU have blood on your hands" - but now find my activism is more subversive, and is sometimes employed through my paintings.
Being in the studio allows fulfills my desire to create things of beauty and sometimes funny and approachable.....even eye candy sometimes. Being in the studio is cathartic for me, and sometimes I use it as a way to get through a tough time. I feel grateful when given the gift of time, to be able to be an artist - that I consider contributors to the "world" in profound ways.
What are you looking at right now and/or reading?
Right now I am listening to comedy to help me move through this unbelievable world we are in , John Stewart is my savior, The daily show, any stand up comedy , SNL(although I miss Kate McKinnon) I just re-read Gerhard Richter "the daily practice of painting", which is incredible & I also read Audre lords "sister outsider". I love the "my favorite murder" podcast and I am just now starting "More than human" podcast.
Where can we find more of your work? (ex. website/insta/gallery/upcoming shows)
Website: www.suzannewright studio.com
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