Susan R. Kirshenbaum

art and life - both the cherries and the pits

Current Series

I love to create multiple versions from one original digital drawing of a life model. I select my favorites – adding and subtracting translucent layers of my art and photography. Then it’s wherever my iterations take me. This way I can focus my attention on a visual theme and it’s easy to show my work in groupings. All of my finished pieces are part of a series, often in the same sizes or proportions.

Women and Nature Collage Series: Wide Format

“Her Bed of Roses (Christina)”, 24Hx 48W inches, is a framed metal print, edition 1/1 which was into VOSS GALLERY’s “Refuse of The Bay”, works rejected from the “DeYoung Open”, Sept 29 through Oct 2023.

It was also recently invited into “A Drawing Group” curated by George Krevsky at 2121 Art Space show,

“Yellow Dress (Sarah)”, 2022, from my “Shop Window Series” (not yet printed)

“Bee Season (Miranda)”, 24 x 48, 2023, is a framed metal print, edition 1/1. Curated into the Arc Gallery Pen and Pencil Exhibition May-June 2023. See it now at my studio during Art Explosion Open Studios Sept 15-17.

“Verdant (Kaweena)”, 24H x 48W was juried into the SFWA Sept 2023 show.

Women and Nature Collage Series: Narrow Formats

“Of the Lake (Sarah)”, 12 x 24 inches, 2022 is a metal print, edition 1/1, which was first shown in The Invisibility Collective Thresholds of Liminality Exhibition and Healing Art exhibition, both at Radian Gallery, in Jan 2023. Oct-Dec it will be shown at Pacific Felt Factory, Black and White Projects (SF).

“Sweet Summertime (Miranda)” is a new piece – not yet printed.

“Interstitial (Karen)”, framed metal print, 48H x 24W, 2023, is currently being shown at SFWA Sept 2023 and was recently exhibited in the NCWCA Portals Online Exhibition. See it at Open Studios.

“Aflame (Sarah)”, framed metal print, 48 x 24, 2023 was selected for the in Arc Galley show, Pen and Pencil May-June 2023). At Art Explosion Studio through Nov 2023 when it moves to Sausalito Center for the Arts.

“Silken Seat (Lael)”, 48 x 24, 2023 (not yet printed)

“Stone Fruit” is a framed metal print, 48H x 24W, is currently being shown at SFWA’s “New Works” juried by Jonathan Carver Moore, Sept 2023.

“To Bee (Lael)”, framed metal print, 48 x 24, 2023 was recently juried into the SFWA Gallery Exhibition May 2023.

“Exploding through the Trees (Titine)”, 48 x 24, 2023 (Shown in Arc Gallery Kaleidoscope Online Exhibition May-June 2023) will be shown in the SFWA Artistic Visions show Nov-Dec 2023.

“Pompeii” is a new piece which will be shown in the SFWA Artistic Visions show Nov-Dec 2023.

“Red Hot” is a framed metal print, 48 x 24, 2023, which was recently juried into SFWA’s Art of Pride Exhibition June 2023. At Art Explosion Studio through Nov 2023.

“Tapestry (Violet)” was shown at Burning Man in the Museum of No Visitors in Aug 2023.

Prior to that it was juried into “Color Pop” at SFWA in April 2023.

“Metamorphosis (Violet)” is a new piece which will be shown in the SFWA Artistic Visions show Nov-Dec 2023.

Wall / Street Art Series

I love walls! Initially inspired by the walls I photographed in Spain, I love to layer my drawings with my wall photos to add a richness of depth, dimension, and mystery.

A digital drawing plus collage made during Covid on Zoom of dancer/model, Cat. Not yet printed.

Juried into “Being Human”, SFWA Gallery’s annual Bay Area-wide juried figure exhibition, “The Birds” will be shown from Dec 12-Jan 5, 2024.

Square Mirror Series

I’m fascinated by the patterns created by duplicating, scaling, and mirroring my drawings. This series is an outgrowth of my foray into textile design. Like the Rorschach test, my combinations create new shapes that emerge for interpretation by the viewer.

Twinning is a frequent theme of mine. “Ignited (Lael)” will be featured in the 2023 Open Studios Guide and Show.

Twinning is a frequent theme of mine. “Tulips (Miranda)” will be featured in the 2023 Open Studios Guide and Show.