Welcome to Susan R. Kirshenbaum’s Website (Cherry Pits Art), Artist & Curator
People say ‘Your art is classical, a bit like Matisse. Pretty.’ But I say my work is subversive – that I’m pushing figure drawing boundaries. Sometimes I use a Barbie to help me tell my most personal, feminist narrative.
srkirshenbaum@gmail.com | https://linktr.ee/SusanRKirshenbaum (all links)
Memberships: San Francisco Women Artists Gallery (SFWA) Gallery | The Invisibility Collective Founding Artist | NCWCA | Artspan | and
Sausalito Center for the Arts (SCA)
EXHIBITIONS
March is Women’s History Month!
WOMEN RISING 2024
The Drawing Room presents Women Rising, an annual group show. My piece, “Women with Women series: Love in Shades of Blue” was selected to be in this year's multi-venue exhibition. See my work is at 210 Clement St. (SF) | Opening Reception Fri, Feb 23, 4-8pm | Gallery open Wed-Sun, 11am-6pm (The second venue is 599 Valencia St, Reception: Sat, Feb 24, 4-9pm)
THE 6000 CIRCLE PROJECT
NCWCA presents a collaborative exhibition honoring the Divine Feminine in the Project Gallery at Arc Gallery, SF
Reception: Sat, Feb 24, 7-9PM | Circle-Making at Arc Gallery: Sun, Mar 10, 1:30-3:30PM
Curatorial Tour & Artist Discussion at Arc Project Gallery: Sun, Mar 17, 1:30-3:30PM | Exhibition: Feb 24-Apr 6
In collaboration with The Calling (Artists Yasmin Lambie-Simpson, Chantelle Goldthwaite, and Sheila Metcalf-Tobin), NCWCA Members are participating in this international art initiative. The project focuses on the circle as a symbol of balance and unity, a never-ending container of feminine energy and light. The Calling envisions 6000 circles created by a multitude of artists from around the globe.
I have been invited to show a 24x24 circular piece.
WOMAN MADE
Seismic Sisters invitational group show at Manny’s (SF)* is Feb 26-March 22. Tickets and details at Eventbrite and FB Invite.
Reception: Fri, March 1, 6-8PM featuring live music, performances and meet-and-greets with participating artists.
Visual Artists: Nicole Dixon, Taiko Fujimura, Tiffany Conway, Nye Lyn Tho, Nathalie Kardjian, Susan R Kirshenbaum, Krystal Lauk
Performers: Mia Pixley, Ash Rex, Molly James Band, Rhodessa Jones
The Seismic Sisters mission is to boost feminist artists who are shaking things up and pressing the feminist conversation forward. After a historically turbulent year, WOMAN MADE will allow people a space for reflection, conversations and dreaming into the world we wish to see. With a line up of the Bay Area’s most provocative and fascinating artistic voices, WOMAN MADE will leave you moved & inspired.
I have been invited to show three pieces.
* Manny’s is a vibrant civic and political events space in the heart of the Mission district, San Francisco. Hosting events and leaders impacting change, recent guests have included First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. A beautiful hip cafe, bar and gathering space, Manny’s is the perfect location for the Woman Made art show. Manny's HOURS are Monday CLOSED / Tue-Fri 8AM-8PM / Sat-Sun 9AM-4PM. (See Manny's website for any updates on hours or special events.)
Sampling of Work in March Exhibitions
Flirting is a digital original collage printed on aluminum, 24” x 24”, in an edition 1/1.
With my piece at the “Women Rising” Reception at The Drawing Room at 210 Clement Street, SF, Feb 2024.
Love in Shades of Blue, is a digital painting, custom framed, printed on aluminum, 23”x23”, in an edition 1/1.
NEWS
It’s a Wrap!
Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today at Sausalito Center for the Arts (SCA)
EVENTS: Reception: Sat, Jan 20, 2-5pm: Live music, refreshments, curator talks | Artist Talks: Fri, 1/27, 11-1pm | Closing Party: Sun, Jan 28, 3-6pm: Roving art model, refreshments, artist/author Peter Steinhart talking about The Undressed Art: Why We Draw, and curator talks
CURATORS: Susan R. Kirshenbaum and Catherine Merrill
ARTISTS: Joseph Abbati, Douglas Andelin, Madelyn Covey, Jane Fisher, Mary Graham, Isidoro, Susan R. Kirshenbaum, Catherine Merrill, Stephen Namara, Diane Olivier, Sharon Paster, Fernando Reyes, Alex Rosmarin, Randall Sexton (deceased)*, May Shei, Sandra Speidel, Peter Steinhart, and Charles H. Stinson
ARTICLES ABOUT THE SHOW: See the article by Jonathan FarrellCalifornia + News and The Figurative Art Movement of The Bay Area isn’t Dead
***
*If you knew Randy you can see some of his last paintings at SCA. Visit his ESTATE SALE (& Celebration of Life)
1/30-2/3, noon-5pm at Benicia Arsenal, 940 Tyler Street, #21 (ground floor), Benicia, CA 94510
Left: Paintings by Sandra Speidel
Right: Drawing and sculpture by Douglas Andelin
Painting and sculpture by Sharon Paster
Oil paintings by Randall Sexton*
Pastel, monoprint, and ink drawings by Diane Olivier
Paintings by Jane Fisher (left) and Madelyn Covery (right) and ceramic vase by Catherine Merrill.
Paintings by May Shei
Left to right: Mary Graham, Douglas Andelin, Fernando Reyes, Mary Graham
Paintings by Joseph Abbati
Left to right: Abbati, Kirshenbaum, Merrill, Fisher, Sexton
Mixed media paintings by Madelyn Covey
My wall of horizontal pieces: Verdant, Bed of Roses, and Bee Season, all 48wx24h, digital original collages
Catherine Merrill, my co-curator, with her ceramic sculptures (Jane Fisher’s paintings on walls).
Here I am with my new piece, Pompeii, 24wx48h, a digital original collage printed on metal, framed, one of 5 pieces in the series “Women and Nature” that is in this show.
Left: Mary Graham mask sculptures
Right: Stephen Namara mixed media
Foreground: Bronze sculptures by Charles H. Stinson
Foreground: Sculptures by Isidoro
Mixed media, paintings, and monoprints by Fernando Reyes
Last day of show events!
ONGOING
WATCH: My TV interview representing SFWA Gallery: LIVE! in the Bay, KRON4: YouTube
READ: Latest blog post "Suddenly, September"
SUPPORT: Join me on Patreon
ART MERCH: RedBubble & Spoonflower
GET SOCIAL: Art IG, FB, LI / Invisibility Collective IG
SEE: All About Women Marin Society of Artists Online Show 2023
Interview PODCAST; SFWA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT; Burning Man Video (my art is there),
My mini-show in Dec 2023 at Sausalito Center for the Arts, precedes the next BIG group show in JAN 2024: Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today.
An image from my latest Barbie on the Cusp book “Naples and the Amalfi Coast”, available now for $30, this limited edition picture book may be signed and shipped to you. Just email me to order it.
One of Three New Works Juried In
Stone Fruit was juried into SFWA’s “New Works” Sept 2023 show. See it at Artspan Open Studios on Oct 27-28 at Pacific Felt Factory.
Juried into Close-Up and Reflection
This is a new piece in my current series of kaleidoscopic imagery, to be first shown at SFWA Gallery’s juried exhibition, “Close-Up”, in Aug 2023. Titled “Lily’s Tears” is an archival photo print, 20 x 20 inches, face-mounted to acrylic and float framed.
This is a new piece in my current series of kaleidoscopic imagery, to be first shown at SFWA Gallery’s juried exhibition, “Reflection”, in July 2023. Titled “Easter Sunday” it is an archival photo print, 20 x 20 inches, face-mounted to acrylic and float framed. See SFWA "Reflection": at SFWA Gallery through July.
“Interstitial” in NCWCA “Portals”
“Interstitial” was just in the NCWCA “Portals” juried member exhibition online at Arc Gallery, then it was juried into the SFWA Gallery’s “New Works” Sept show. See it at Artspan Open Studios on Oct 27-28 at Pacific Felt Factory.
2023 Curatorial Project
Creating a show takes quite a bit of planning. This exhibition is close to my heart, titled “Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today”, I invited Catherine Merrill, sculptor, ceramic artist, teacher, and curator to co-curate this exhibition with me this past winter at SFWA. Here’s a newly published article on this subject: https://www.artandantiquesmag.com/making-the-rules/
My work (right) at SFWA Gallery in 2023 Figurative Show I co-curated, with Joseph Abbati’s work on the left.
A corner of the show with Fernando Reyes work (left) and Jane Fisher’s work (right).
The postcard has a sample of each artist’s work.
View upon entry into the gallery of the two sculptures by co-curator Catherine Merrill (ceramics) and Charles H. Stinson (bronzes).
WHAT’S NEW
“Tapestry” went to Burning Man!
Tapestry was exhibited at Burning Man 2023, for their “Animalia” theme in the Museum of No Spectators on behalf of The Invisibility Collective. It was also juried into the April 2023 “Color Pop” show at SFWA Gallery, Juror: Cecilia Chia, Glass Rice Gallery (SF). It’s been invited into a show at Manny’s (SF) in Feb 2024.
“Exploding through the Trees” was juried into the “Kaleidoscope” exhibition at Arc Gallery, in their online show and catalogue. It will be shown in-person for the first time in “Artistic Vision” at SFWA in Nov 2023.
SFWA Curatorial Projects & Exhibitions
I’m taking a break from my role as SFWA’s Exhibitions Director after five years (whew!) of planning and writing our show themes and inviting our jurors.
I’m continuing through Jan 2024 as the Chair of the SFWA/UCSF Serenity Art Series, with my co-chair Jean Brodie, as we move into our 6th show in The Center for Women’s Health on Sutter Street in SF. We curate each show of five SFWA women artists and can visit floors 3-5 now. Our next group of SFWA women artists will install on Sept. 15. Look for the announcement of that reception to come soon.
At our last Serenity Art Show Reception in June 2023 with current exhibiting artist Nimisha.
Here I am talking about my work (we all did) and this show at our reception at SFWA.
COLLECTIVE BIENNIAL SHOW
The Invisibility Collective Biennial Invitational: "Thresholds of Liminality"* December 10, 2022 – January 28, 2023, Radian Gallery, 440 Brannan St, San Francisco. Artists include The Invisibility Collective members Susan R. Kirshenbaum, Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen, Samira Shaheen, Christopher M. Tandy, and invited artists Joseph Abbati, Vin Seaman, Allan Rosenfield, Rell Rushin, Na Omi Judy Shintani, and Leif Larson.
In 2020, The Invisibility Collective presented their first invitational exhibition: Seen × Unseen at Radian. In their second exhibition: Thresholds of Liminality, artists explore the un- or under-perceived process of transition and the moments at which something might happen, cease to happen, take effect, or become true. Acting as revealers, guides, mapmakers, documenters, whisperers, and companions, the artists in this exhibition bear witness to these thresholds, centering experiences whose great meaning is undetectable by those not within the experience of transition.
*Liminal: a sensory threshold, barely perceptible or capable of eliciting a response. Liminality: a liminal state of transition between one stage and the next, especially between major stages in one’s life. In this exhibition, works in various media explore those unwitnessed or imperceptible states and experiences of transformation.
SLIDESHOW TO THE RIGHT
NOW SHOWING
“The Birds” is currently in “Being Human” a juried show at SFWA, Dec 2023.
Botanical Figures at City Art Coop
SOLD! “Scent of Red” was purchased from City Art Coop Gallery on June 25, 2023 – Gay Pride Weekend.
At City Art Coop Gallery in June 2023 – Gay Pride Month
“Red Hot” was just in the May-June 2023 show, “The Art of Pride” at SFWA.
“Pen and Pencil” at Arc Gallery
Two pieces in the “Pen and Pencil” show at Arc Gallery, May-June 2023. Curated by my fellow drawing group pal, Pamela Mooney.
The Drawing Group
The Drawing Group Show "Figure Drawing & Points of Departure" | Curated by George Krevsky, this is “Magenta/Bridget” a drawing I made (on my iPad) in our drawing group awhile back.
My long-time drawing is having a show at a new gallery, 2121 Art Space. Here I am (below) with artists Alex Rosmarin and Barbara Tonnesen at the opening reception in June 2023.
Discussing my work with our curator George Krevsky at the reception.
SFWA GALA AT SALESFORCE TOWER - WINTER 2022
The view at the top of Salesforce Tower (61st floor) at I arrived to volunteer for SFWA Gallery’s first ever (since 1887) GALA Fundraiser on Dec 7, 2022.
BABS IN EUROPE: BARBIE ON THE CUSP - BOOK 4
Now you can buy the fourth book in my ongoing series of “Barbie on the Cusp: Babs in Europe”. She was photographed during our trip in Spring 2022 when we were last in Italy, France, and Spain. Order it from me or buy it at City Art Coop Gallery in March 2023. It’s $30. Here are some sample spreads and there are many more…The next book will be a new Barbie traveling to different parts of Italy.
IN THE MEDIA
More links to press coverage here.
I was interviewed live on Aug 17, 2022 on behalf of San Francisco Women Artists Gallery (SFWA) on KRON4 TV: LIVE! in the Bay with the gorgeous and charming host, Olivia Horton.
At KRON4 TV with Chase Roberts, publicist for SFWA when I was interviewed on behalf of San Francisco Women Artists Gallery (SFWA) on KRON4 TV: LIVE! in the Bay.
Women and Nature Series: Wide and Narrow Formats
SFWA’s Serenity Co-Chair Jean Brodie, Chair Susan R. Kirshenbaum, and artist Chandana Srinath
Photographer’s Eye: Honorary Award
This photo composite of mine won SFWA’s January 2023 “Photographer’s Eye” exhibition Juror’s Award. See it among my three works juried into our first all photography show Jan 2023. Juror: Melissa Castro Keesor, Director, Harvey Milk Photo Center
CURATING SHOWS
I have found myself curating a handful of exhibitions these last few years. It may have started with the planning involved in my Invisibility Collective group shows, or I could attribute the beginnings to my work over the last several years as the Exhibitions Director for the SFWA Gallery. More recently I’ve added USCF’s Art Series, Serenity to my volunteer curatorial work which I share with co-chair, Jean Brodie, on behalf of SFWA.
And I just co-curated an independent Bay Area group show that opens on April 8 at SFWA, “Third Generation: The Bay Area Figurative Movement Today”.
SERENITY ART SERIES AT UCSF
SFWA began a new curatorial partnership with UCSF Center of Excellence for Women’s Health at the Women’s Health Center in SF in 2021. I’m the Chair for the Serenity series.
We exhibit three times a year, showing works by five SFWA artists, one per floor, in the Women’s Health Center.
Our first show opened in January 2022. SFWA selected member artists were: Valerie Corbin, Marie Massey, Susan Proehl, and myself. Learn more: https://sfwomenartists.org/serenity/ and https://womenshealth.ucsf.edu/coe/serenity-i-am-resilient
SERENITY RECEPTIONS
We had a lovely Closing Reception of our Jan-May 2023 Serenity Art Series curated group exhibition, Radiant. There were five artists on five floors: Barbara McLain, Deena Smith, Chandana Srinath, Melissa Park, and Tiffany Conway. This is our first reception since Covid began. UCSF Women’s Health Center, 2356 Sutter St, SF 94115
There’s a May-Sept show on now (come and see!) and a Sept-Jan ‘24 beginning on Sept 15th. Look for the next reception on the SFWA website.
OPEN STUDIO SHOWS
At Artspan’s annual “Taste” art award event.
At the opening of “Artists Choice” at SFWA with SFWA president Pam Borrelli and artist Usha Shukla.
“Scent of Red” is about color and smell, plants and people, and was juried into SFWA’s Sept 2022 “Artists Choice”.
Me and my wall for the SFWA OPEN STUDIOS 2022 show.
PHOTO GALLERY OF EVENTS
THE DRAWING ROOM GALLERY
See “Appear/Disappear” now at The Drawing Room show, “Women Rising”, March-April 2022. I gave an Artist’s Talk about this piece on 4/7/22.
At the Root Division’s Art Auction Show Reception Oct 2022 with fellow exhibiting artist Nimisha.
SERENITY ART SERIES AT UCSF
SFWA began a new curatorial partnership with UCSF Center of Excellence for Women’s Health at the Women’s Health Center in SF. I’m chairing the Serenity Exhibition Series, with co-chair, Jean Brodie. Our first show opened in January 2022 with five women artist members on five floors. SFWA selected member artists are: Valerie Corbin, The Marie Massey, Susan Proehl, and myself. There are three shows per year. Learn more: https://sfwomenartists.org/serenity/ and https://womenshealth.ucsf.edu/coe/serenity-i-am-resilient
SFWA’s curatorial debut of the ongoing exhibition three times a year. our first show in the series, “Serenity: I am Resilient”, included my work at UCSF’s Women’s Health Center in SF.
In the corridor at UCSF my work lines the wall.
View down the corridor of UCSF.
In the corridor at UCSF my work lines the wall.
LOOK BACK: 2020-2021 EXHIBITION: “SEEN X UNSEEN”, THE INVISIBILITY COLLECTIVE
After several months of lively Zoom exchanges from coast to coast, The Invisibility Collective launched our blogsite in September and now we launched our first group exhibition. “Seen X Unseen is at Radian Gallery (SF) through December 2020.
I’ve been thinking about invisibility for a long time. Personally I’ve experienced this phenomenon as an aging woman. Now it has expanded to include so much more.
Who do you think of when you think of Invisible people? Have you ever felt invisible? How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
Send me your thoughts.
“Seen x Unseen”, the first group exhibition by The Invisibility Collective & Invited Artists | @ Radian Gallery (SF) | Dec 5-Jan 24, 2021
COLLECTIVE MEMBER ARTISTS: Lonnie Graham | Susan R. Kirshenbaum | Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen | Samira Shaheen | Angela Tirrell
INVITED ARTISTS: Mary Graham | Sophia Green | Rell Rushin | Sawyer Rose | John Stone | Christopher M. Tandy (Courtesy of Glass Rice Gallery, SF) | Nancy Willis
SELECTED IMAGES
My See-Through Us series of five chiffon panels imprinted with my digital original art.
Most of this same installation piece is on display at Arc in Nov-Dec 2021.
Samira Shaheen’s Crossroads mixed media painting.
John Stone’s Is a....
Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen’s Alter.
Mary Graham’s pieces - painting plus video of sound performance.
Sawyer Rose’s installation and portrait, Loeta.
Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen performing a ritual at her alter installation piece.
Lonnie Graham’s installation, Ancestral Resonance.
Sawyer Rose’s 3 works: Bety, a sculpture and a photo portrait and A Day’s Work: Gender Pay Gap Calendar.
“And You?” by Susan R. Kirshenbaum is an interactive piece to write responses directly onto my digital original art print. Annice Jacoby is writing her thoughts on opening day of “Seen X Unseen”.
Barbie on the Cusp: Phases 1 -4
2019
PHASE 1: A Residency Project at PFF in Black and White Projects Gallery - The Creation of Barbie on the Cusp and multimedia installation with book #1
PHASE 2: Second installation at PFF in main gallery
PHASE 3: Europe and Yosemite, Book #2
PHASE 3: Japan, Book #3
2020-22
PHASE 4: COVID
“Barbie on the Cusp: Phase 2” debuted at Pacific Felt Factory (PFF) in October 2019 and is a photo-based series of Barbie “on location” in Spain, France, and Yosemite National Park in California. I produced a new zine for this show and reprinted/updated the first illustrated Barbie zine. See this work on display at City Art Coop Gallery (SF) in August 2021. This image is from my first Barbie on the Cusp (Phase 1) zine, later enlarged as wall art for exhibition in Phase 2.
Fall-Winter: Life continues in a Covid state of alert, riding the rollercoaster of surges and Election Season. Listen closely. I miss the escape of a warm sea.
Spring: This piece is online now at Lightspace and Time, May-June Show, themed Created in Isolation, and it won a Special Recognition Award.
Summer: Barbie and I couldn’t go outside to demonstrate - so we did what we could do to make a statement. See my 20” square print in the Oct 2021 Open Studio Show at SFWA.
RECENT SERIES: PRINTED ON PAPER, MOUNTED ON WOOD
Cat, they were an important COVID Caturday muse. This is an 8-inch square piece.
Alluris in swimsuit series with botanicals
Prudence - an elegant model – so many inspirations surround me. SOLD
Kyla the magnificent aerial ballet dancer hangs from her silks
A graceful zoom model out of Barcelona – unfortunately I don’t know her name. SOLD
This image is from my first Barbie on the Cusp (Phase 1) zine, later enlarged as wall art for exhibition in Phase 2.
This image is from my first Barbie on the Cusp (Phase 1) zine, later enlarged as wall art for exhibition in Phase 2.
THREE LIMITED EDITION BARBIE BOOKS & CARDS
Barbie on the Cusp: Japan, Zine #3, This is a signed limited edition $25 all inclusive with shipping. See my photo setups of Barbie in Japan in this ongoing zine series. I have Barbie art cards too.
Order from me directly! Get the entire series of three for $70. Limited editions, signed. Available from City Art Coop Gallery through Sept 2021 and at the receptions at SFWA Gallery on Oct 2 and 3, 2021.
These make great gifts and are always for sale at my shows and in my studio: art greeting cards, small prints, and books. Perfect for Valentines Day!
THE NAKED TRUTH, A SOCIAL MEDIA PROJECT
Draped in my art series titled “See Through Us” created for the “Seen X Unseen” exhibition by The Invisibility Collective, Radian Gallery, SF, Dec 2020
As a figurative artist who is used to drawing live models in person on a regular basis, the pandemic led me to discover new ways to satisfy my need to keep up my drawing while supporting the life model community. I did not expect to enjoy drawing virtually but it turns out that I love it – and as a bonus, it’s like virtual travel too, since I’ve been attending sessions held all around the world.
Model-led sessions are a fairly recent development in my experience, but drawing groups have been a part of my art practice for a long time. Both types of groups are helping models survive under impossible circumstances. In addition to zoom model drawing sessions I attend my regular drawing group virtually. Twice a week I draw fellow artists heads and hands as we take turns posing. As a result of these Covid-inspired virtual sessions, I’ve gotten to know more artists, see their newly created work, meet models, and maintain my art practice. At the same time I was discovering the world of virtual drawing I was feeling a greater need to connect artists to delve into a subject that has plagued me for a long time, and people seemed to be more available than usual. I began a series of bi-coastal conversations and together we formed The Invisibility Collective, which organized a year-end gallery exhibition in San Francisco. These powerful and enduring outcomes wouldn’t have happened without the pandemic. Read an update about this show on my Summer Blog: Lefty.
The dancer and model Lael is placed amidst botanicals. Met her on zoom during Covid now get to draw her in person.
This piece, “Body Paint”, was eatured at analog gallery: “Naked Truth of Art", curated by Nathalie Fabri & Fabio Reis. SOLD!
CHERRY PITS LAUNCHES PRODUCTS
NOW YOU CAN ORDER DIRECT FROM TWO ONLINE SHOPS: REDBUBBLE
AND SPOONFLOWER. I am always adding more new art!
Brand new (and I am of course using this for my new iPhone too)…my photo art, taken of a temple wall with masks imbedded into it, in Japan in 2019.
This elegant t-shirt is one of my latest acquisitions from RedBubble. When we can travel again these clothes are perfect to pack. The back and sleeves are black jersey material and the front is an opaque chiffon.
Pandemic attire: everything matches - and all of my art is scaled to fit each item - dress, mask, and leggings.
It’s the new way to dress! See many version of my art for sale on textiles, wallpaper, & merchandise @ SPOONFLOWER and @ REDBUBBLE
“She’s on Fire” is the art applied to these matching leggings and mask. Super hot tones! @ REDBUBBLE
Kris in her studio in “She’s on Fire” leggings and mask.
My new studio clock is from RedBubble (right).
This iPhone with “Japanese Gesture” art case makes me happy and reminds me of summertime roses. @ REDBUBBLE
Yes - the socks DO match the top! In pink, orange, and black. @ REDBUBBLE
SOCIAL
PATREON
Support me directly and get unique content first: www.patreon.com
A YEAR AGO: 2020 FIRST QUARTER
(100 YEARS AGO?)
MORE SHOWS
At the SFWA - Ameriprise (San Jose) show hanging standing between two of my recent Barbie photo pieces. This was also my curatorial debut!
Until Sheltering in Place (SIP) kicked in on March 16, there was a ton of art activity and planning for 2020. In January there were art shows and Art Week in SF. I attended both big art fairs - Untitled and FOG Art & Design. It was a great dose of international art and design which just might hold me until my next art fair. Now they are all postponed!
At SF’s annual FOG Art & Design Fair paired with a painting (not mine!).
SFWA reception for “2020-A Leap Year” with gallerist/juror Ashley Voss and my piece “Red Dawn” (sold!).
Arc’s Snap! Show and sale - with my piece “Mermaiding” from the Barbie Series.
Reception at SFWA. Photo by DeWitt Cheng 2019, SF
FEATURED PAST EXHIBITIONS
Women in Silk: Not What You Think & Life Squared, Art Talk at SFWA
What drives me to create this work? When I was younger, I thought the world was progressive, moving forward, never backward. Now I’m both astonished and delighted that at long last there is another wave of increased awareness about the ongoing exclusion and mistreatment of women. As a young person growing up in the 60s through the 80s I watched and participated in a wave of progress in human rights. The work on these walls…See the rest on my blog.
At an SFWA opening with two of my pieces that were juried into the show.
Berkeley Art Center member’s show and reception with “Of the Garden”.
At City Art Coop Gallery (SF) in front of my wall on gallery sitting day.
THE MISSION KISS PROJECTS 1 & 2
In April 2021 a group of artists once again hung our heart paintings around the SF Mission District. Organized bt Nathalie Fabris, she called it an art project about love. SOLD!
On Sept 20, 2020, “The Mission Kiss” took place, a public art project & art walk - with over 100 artists and their heart art (SF). @themissionkiss
Just after hanging the City Art Coop Sept 2020 show.
At Red Bubble you can order my art on a mask, a dress, and leggings to match - or you can mix ‘n match like me!
City Art Coop Gallery (SF) - Square but not Square was my exhibition at the group’s September show. | Video below: Ken Kobre
2020 (the year that wasn’t) HIGHLIGHTS
I founded and launched The Invisibility Collective, a national art-for-social-change collaboration. We are working on multiple projects and our first major exhibition is underway for next month! Save the dates: December 5 & 12 at Radian Gallery in San Francisco.
I was invited to become an ambassador, or as they call me, a “goddess” for a women’s group based in Catalonia, Grace of no Age. As a Creative Coach I write articles about relevant issues around creativity, self-expression, art, aging, and womanhood. In 2022 I’ve stepped away.
GRACE OF NO AGE
I am called a goddess by this group. You could also say I’m an ambassador. We are creating a sisterhood, an international community of women who are helping each other in a non-judgmental arena by sharing their own varied experiences and discoveries. A platform where women of any age that are looking for support will find resources to help them feel better both mentally and physically.
Here’s the link to my first article on this site titled Invisible Women Rising. I have a two more stories out now.
ART GREETING CARDS, SMALL PRINTS, BOOKS
BLACK AND WHITE WORLD
MY PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK
My first photo art book has arrived! This charming little hard cover book is full of my black and white photography shot in 2019. Black and White World is 6” x 6” with 31 pages of photos in a limited edition of 10. Get your signed copy for $35 (inclusive). Order it directly from me. Email: srkirshenbaum@gmail.com
Front of hard cover photo book, 2020
This is a brand new 20’ square archival photo print face-mounted to acrylic. Buy the book and buy the print!
“Barbie on the Cusp: Japan” is in stock - order yours now for $25 inclusive.
Here’s a sample spread from Black and White World by Susan R. Kirshenbaum, 2020 - two images I shot in Catalonia.
OPEN STUDIOS 2020 & MY STUDIO
I’m back at my studio and starting bigger projects there. I can’t wait to have a live model there with me at a safe distance. Right now it’s just me in a good-sized space including a gallery, in a fairly empty commercial (wholesale, to the trade) building - the Sobel Design Building in SF. My space is large and empty enough for short, in-person distanced visits. I DID have a few studio visits in October and it was wonderful to invite people in to see my space and a great deal of my work.
Dianne Hoffman from Artspan came to visit my studio and post the story on FB in October 2020. Note how I’ve taken over the gallery space! I can spread out and hang much of my work.
DRAWING SESSIONS DURING SHELTERING
DRAWING GROUP - HEADS ‘N HANDS
Two nights a week I meet virtually with John Goodman’s drawing group to talk and draw. Some of us have been drawing together for decades! At some point I asked for us to pose for each other and work on hands, which turned into heads and hands and has settled into a routine of taking turns with 7-minute poses.
DRAWING OUTDOORS
The drawing group met outdoors twice so far during sheltering to draw a model. We hired a model each time to pose for us in a backyard with room to keep our distance. Lucky the smokey SF air was not too bad.
This drawing was made in a back yard during sheltering in place. It is one of only two live life drawing sessions during 2020.
Drawing outdoors was an option I enjoyed twice during Covid sheltering.