# Susan Swartz

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**Susan Swartz** is an American visual artist, environmental and health activist, and documentary film producer. She is known for her abstract landscapes and [mixed-media](/source/Mixed-media) works that explore the relationship between nature, color, and spirituality. She lives and works in [Park City, Utah](/source/Park_City,_Utah), and [Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts](/source/Martha's_Vineyard).[1] Her work is featured, among other places, at Park City gallery, Susan Swartz Studios.[2]

## Early life and education

Swartz was raised in the South Hills area of [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), and is the eldest of three sisters. She is a first-generation college student. A high school art teacher recognized her artistic talent and encouraged her to pursue formal training.[3] Swartz attended Edinboro State College (now [Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro](/source/Pennsylvania_Western_University,_Edinboro)), where she studied art.[4]

## Career

After completing her studies, Swartz worked as an art teacher in [Princeton, New Jersey](/source/Princeton,_New_Jersey), and [Baldwin, Pennsylvania](/source/Baldwin,_Pennsylvania).[3] She later transitioned to a full-time studio practice.

Swartz began her career as a [realist painter](/source/Realism_(arts)), working primarily in [watercolor](/source/Watercolor_painting) and later [acrylic](/source/Acrylic_paint), with early influences drawn from the [Hudson River School](/source/Hudson_River_School) tradition. Following a prolonged illness involving [Lyme disease](/source/Lyme_disease) and [mercury poisoning](/source/Mercury_poisoning), her work shifted toward [abstraction](/source/Abstract_art). Physical limitations during this period influenced her move away from detailed realism and toward expressive, abstract forms. She has continued to work in [abstraction](/source/Abstraction), citing the medium’s capacity to convey emotion and sensory experience rather than literal representation.[5]

Her recent work incorporates [mixed media](/source/Mixed_media) and natural materials, including leaves, branches, grasses, seeds, dried fruits, and vegetables, embedded in thickly applied acrylic paint. These works often extend beyond the canvas surface, emphasizing sculptural form.[6][7]

In 2022, Swartz contributed painting *Evolution of Nature 24* to the [Sotheby’s](/source/Sotheby's) Contemporary Discoveries benefit auction to support [Instituto Terra](/source/Instituto_Terra).[8]

## Exhibitions

Swartz has presented solo exhibitions internationally, including at the [George Bergès Gallery](/source/Georges_Berg%C3%A8s), New York City, New York (2024); Jason McCoy Gallery, New York City, New Work (2023); Ten Nineteen Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana (2023); Galerie Herman Noack, Berlin (2021); the [Central Academy of Fine Arts](/source/Central_Academy_of_Fine_Arts) (CAFA) Museum, Beijing (2018); the [Manetti Shrem Museum of Art](/source/Manetti_Shrem_Museum_of_Art), Davis, California (2018); the [Russian State Museum](/source/Marble_Palace), St. Petersburg (2017); the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest (2016); the Ludwig Museum, Koblenz (2015); the [Kollegienkirche, Salzburg](/source/Kollegienkirche,_Salzburg) (2104); the [National Museum of Women in the Arts](/source/National_Museum_of_Women_in_the_Arts), Washington, D.C. (2011); the [Springville Museum of Art](/source/Springville_Museum_of_Art), Utah (2010); and the [Utah Museum of Fine Arts](/source/Utah_Museum_of_Fine_Arts), Salt Lake City (2008).[1]

## Collections

Swartz's work is held in public and private collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, D.C.); the Utah Museum of Fine Arts; the Springville Museum of Art; the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum (Beijing); the International Olympic Museum (Lausanne, Switzerland); the George Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum (Park City, Utah); the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Museum; and the Kimball Art Center (Park City, Utah).[1][9]

Swartz’s work has also been displayed in [United States embassies](/source/United_States_embassies) in New Zealand, Hungary, and China through the [U.S. Department of State](/source/U.S._Department_of_State)’s [Art in Embassies program](/source/Art_in_Embassies_Program).[1]

## Awards and recognition

Swartz has received numerous awards and honors, including the [Sundance Film Festival](/source/Sundance_Film_Festival) Utah Women’s Annual Leadership Award (2016); Exceptional Utah Artist Award (2012); [Independent Publisher Book Award](/source/Independent_Publisher_Book_Awards) (IPPY) (2008); Distinguished Alumni Award from Edinboro University (2008); Utah Governor’s Mansion Artist Award (2001); and appointment as Official Environmental Artist for the [2002 Olympic Winter Games](/source/2002_Winter_Olympics). She was an [artist-in-residence](/source/Artist-in-residence) at [Harvard Divinity School](/source/Harvard_Divinity_School) in 2005.[1]

The critic [Donald Kuspit](/source/Donald_Kuspit) writing of her work in *[Whitehot Magazine](/source/Whitehot_Magazine)* describes it [as] "depicting nature at every season, with exquisitely nuanced brushwork, Susan Swartz came into her own as a transcendental realist, making paintings that seem full of perpetual youth, whatever the season".[10]

## Artistic style and influences

Swartz’s work emphasizes color theory, texture, and materiality. She frequently employs thick acrylic paint and botanical elements to create layered, tactile surfaces.[6] Her artistic influences include the [French Impressionists](/source/French_Impressionists)’ use of color, the [Dutch school](/source/Dutch_School_(painting))’s treatment of light, and German Romantic and contemporary painters such as [Caspar David Friedrich](/source/Caspar_David_Friedrich) and [Gerhard Richter](/source/Gerhard_Richter).[1] Themes of nature, healing, and spirituality are central to her practice.[7][1]

## Other activities

Swartz is a co-founder of [Impact Partners](/source/Impact_Partners), a documentary film organization.[11] Impact Partners produced *[Icarus](/source/Icarus_(2017_film))*, which won the [Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Documentary_Feature) in 2017. In 2025 Impact Partners was given the "Pioneer Award" by the International Documentary Awards (IDA).[12][13] Swartz has served as an executive producer on multiple films, including [Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease](/source/Under_Our_Skin) (2008), [!Women Art Revolution](/source/!Women_Art_Revolution) (2010), [Athlete A](/source/Athlete_A) (2020), and [Navalny](/source/Navalny_(film)) (2022).[14] She has served on the National Advisory Board of the [National Museum of Women in the Arts](/source/National_Museum_of_Women_in_the_Arts),[15] the Dean's Council of the Harvard Divinity School,[1] the Venture Council of the [International Justice Mission](/source/International_Justice_Mission),[16] and is the co-founder of charity-based The Christian Center of Park City.[17] She is on the board of the Utah Film Center.[18]

## References

1. ["Curriculum Vitae"](https://www.susanswartz.com/curriculum-vitae). *Susan Swartz Studios*

1. ["Susan Swartz Studios"](https://www.susanswartz.com/). *Susan Swartz Studios*. July 15, 2025.

1. ["FROM BALDWIN TO BUDAPEST TO BEIJING"](https://www.susanswartz.com/press/the-boro-susan-swartz). *Susan Swartz Studios*

1. ["The Boro Magazine Fall 2019"](https://issuu.com/pennwestuniversity/docs/boro_magazine_fall2019). *Issuu*. October 1, 2019.

1. ["Artist"](https://www.susanswartz.com/artist). *Susan Swartz Studios*

1. ["Evolution of Nature"](https://susanswartzstudios.viewingrooms.com/artworks/categories/1-evolution-of-nature/). *Susan Swartz Studios*

1. ["Spotlight: Artist Susan Swartz on How Her Personal Health Issues Inform Her Work, and Why the Natural World Is Worth Protecting"](https://news.artnet.com/art-world/susan-swartz-studio-2022-2207793). *news.artnet.com*. November 11, 2022.

1. ["Evolution of Nature 24 | Contemporary Discoveries | 2022"](https://www.sothebys.com/buy/fe9e0b71-634a-4b8a-88c1-179b1c3069a0/lots/bccb08b3-9d8f-4d82-b5ed-9e5a25cb937a). *Sotheby's*. Retrieved 2026-01-07.

1. ["Notable Work"](https://www.susanswartz.com/notable-work). *Susan Swartz Studios*

1. ["Susan Swartz, Transcendentalist by Donald Kuspit"](https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/swartz-transcendentalist-by-donald-kuspit/6460). *Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art*

1. ["About"](https://impactpartnersfilm.com/about/). *Impact Partners*

1. ["Impact Partners"](https://impactpartnersfilm.com/). *Impact Partners*

1. Carey, Matthew (October 15, 2025). ["IDA Awards To Honor Producer Julie Goldman, ‘Seeds’ Director Brittany Shyne And Key Documentary Funder Impact Partners"](https://deadline.com/2025/10/2025-ida-awards-honorees-1236585200/). *deadline.com*

1. ["Susan Swartz | Producer, Additional Crew, Director"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3018822/). *IMDb*

1. ["Board of Trustees"](https://nmwa.org/about/board/). *nmwa.org*

1. ["Jim and Susan Swartz"](https://www.ijm.org/people/jim-and-susan-swartz). *International Justice Mission*. December 1, 2025.

1. ["Board of Directors"](https://ccofpc.org/board-directors/). *Christian Center of Park City*

1. ["Staff & Board"](https://utahfilmcenter.org/staff-board/). *utahfilmcenter.org*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Susan Swartz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Swartz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Swartz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.