Bio
Susan Landesmann is a Vienna-born artist whose work explores the emotional and physical landscapes of women’s lives. Trained in graphic design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, Susan spent decades as an award-winning creative director in Los Angeles before shifting her focus toward a dedicated studio practice. Her background in design—rooted in precision, composition, and a deep sensitivity to color—continues to inform the visual language of her paintings.
After years investigating the interplay of shape, line, and vibrant color, Susan’s recent work turns toward the figurative, bringing the female form into dialogue with her long-standing interest in geometry and abstraction. Working primarily in acrylic and mixed media, she examines themes of aging, interiority, identity, and the dualities inherent in a woman’s emotional world. Her paintings often explore moments of solitude, vulnerability, and reflection, while also embracing the freedom, resilience, and self-possession that emerge with age.
She has exhibited at The Other Art Fair and in curated exhibitions at The Braid in Los Angeles. She is also a Juried Artist Member of the Los Angeles Art Association. Through both her design and fine art practices, Susan is committed to creating work that invites introspection, narrative, and emotional resonance. She currently lives and works in Malibu, California.
Statement
My work grows out of a lifetime of thinking in shape, color, and space. After studying graphic design at Parsons School of Design in New York, I spent many years as an art director and creative director in Los Angeles, where I learned to think carefully about composition, balance, and clarity.
For many years I painted abstract work, exploring geometric forms, bold color, and the relationship between line and space. Those explorations continue to shape my paintings today. While the female figure has become central to my work, abstraction remains an essential part of how I communicate emotion. I am less interested in telling a literal story than in creating a space where viewers can bring their own experiences.
My paintings explore aging, identity, belonging, and memory. I am drawn to quiet moments and to the relationship between the female figure and the spaces she inhabits. Alongside vulnerability, I see resilience, wisdom, acceptance, and a growing sense of freedom. The settings are imagined rather than real, giving me room to explore emotion instead of narrative.
I work primarily in acrylic, oil, and mixed media. Every painting begins with color and composition and develops through layers of observation, intuition, and revision. Sometimes I incorporate handmade paper or fabric to add texture and another visual layer to the work.
Recently, my work has begun to explore an even closer relationship between the figure and the landscape. Rather than standing apart from nature, my figures gradually dissolve into it, suggesting that identity is shaped by memory, place, and time. This direction reflects my growing interest in belonging, not only to a place but also to ourselves.
At its heart, my work is about finding connection. I hope my paintings invite viewers to pause, reflect, and perhaps recognize something of themselves.