Susan Leopold: An Artistic Legacy
Susan Leopold has built a reputation over the last four decades as a luminary in the world of art and education. With a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from The School of Visual Art and a Master of Professional Studies from New York University, Tisch-Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). Susan’s academic foundation is both robust and impressive. Her artistic journey commenced at the age of 16 with an independent study with Ed Paschke in Chicago. This experience sparked a passion that she carried with her as she traversed through various artistic domains, establishing herself as both a creator and educator.
Leopold has exhibited her artwork extensively and is represented by Elizabeth Harris Gallery, NYC, Zolla/Lieberman, Chicago and John Weber Gallery, NYC from 1986-1999. NYC. Leopold is currently an adjunct assistant professor at Parsons School for Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Leopold is a recipient of the 1989-1990 Fulbright Fellowship to India and the Indo-American Fellowship. In 2006, Leopold received the Agop Agopoff Prize from the National Academy, NYC, NY. Leopold was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship for Architecture/Environmental Structures (1998), The Virginia A. Groot Foundation Fellowship (1998), and the Wampler Art Professorship from James Madison University.
Selected exhibitions include The Whitney Museum of American, Mass MOCA-KidSpace, The Butler Institute of American Art, The Hudson River Museum and The Museum of Contemporary Photography Columbia College. Leopold has a permanent, commissioned installation of her artwork at Planet Word Museum, Washington DC. Other commissions include the NYC Arts for Transit-Metropolitan Transit (1989, 2000, 2006) and Deutsche Bank, NYC (1997).
Leopold’s artwork has been featured on the cover of Art Forum, reviewed in the New Yorker, The New York Times, ArtNews, and numerous other art publications. Selected collections include The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and The Butler Institute of American Art.
Her accomplishments aren’t just confined to traditional art and instruction. Susan has been a forerunner in integrating technology with art, having served as an instructor in digital media. Her tenure from 1998 to 2000 at The Leadership High School, sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation & Henry Street Settlement, showcases her ability to merge art with literacy in the classroom setting.
A prolific visiting artist, Susan has graced numerous universities, from Montclair University in New Jersey to the University of California in both Santa Barbara and San Diego. Furthermore, she has imparted her knowledge through lectures at globally recognized institutions, such as The Rubin Museum of Art, the University of Nevada, and the Pratt Institute, to name just a few.
Susan’s commitment to education was evident through her roles as an art instructor at the esteemed institutions such as LREI, the Tisch School of the Arts, and the Anna Silver School of Art and Technology. Her expertise in mixed media was further highlighted through her workshops at venues like The Anderson Ranch in Colorado and The Cooper Union in New York NYC.
A published photographer, Susan’s works have appeared in notable publications like Travel and Leisure Magazine. Her artistic vision has been captured in multimedia projects, and she even graced the small screen in a documentary in 1992. Her fervor for art also extended to global explorations, documenting traditional architecture and cultures from the expansive Dogon Plateau in Mali to the Tibetan Monasteries in Sikkim, India.
Outside of her professional commitments, Susan’s dedication to community shines bright. As the Founder and Director of the Young Artists Painting Workshop, she has fostered creativity among young minds for nearly a decade. Moreover, she played an integral role in community garden events in NYC and has consistently contributed her expertise for the enrichment of the community.
In sum, Susan Leopold’s artistic journey is a testament to her dedication, creativity, and passion. With a career spanning over four decades, she stands as a beacon for aspiring artists and educators alike, illuminating the path with her vast knowledge and unmatched experience.
