Laura Sussman-Randall
In 2011 I returned to the practice of drawing after years of working in mixed media and fiber. Working with charcoal on a large scale reintroduced a new energy and immediacy to my work, which quickly lent itself to expressing my increasing anger about the effects of greed, obstructionism, and prejudice on our country. I am currently working on two related bodies of work; Dog Eat Dog, and American Dream. Through the use of symbolic but familiar objects both address the current social and political climate, particularly the issues of power, greed, and injustice.
The Dog Eat Dog series utilizes images of canine behavior as a symbol for the various power imbalances that have become so visible in our country. The expressions of dogs can range from fierce to meek, from playful to piteous. Man's best friend serves as both an entry point and a mirror for examining our own behavior. The Torn Flag drawings are part of the "American Dream" series. The flags represent the battered state of the American Dream as well as our state of being torn apart from one another by the current political climate. I deliberately omit any likenesses of specific or identifiable place or person in order to remove any associations or prejudices that may push the viewer in a too-specific direction or push them away. In doing this I hope to allow the viewer to approach the work and consider it on their own terms. Finally, the accompanying videos are the outgrowth of a grant project documenting the drawing process and are intended to amplify and expand upon the themes addressed in the drawings.
The Dog Eat Dog series utilizes images of canine behavior as a symbol for the various power imbalances that have become so visible in our country. The expressions of dogs can range from fierce to meek, from playful to piteous. Man's best friend serves as both an entry point and a mirror for examining our own behavior. The Torn Flag drawings are part of the "American Dream" series. The flags represent the battered state of the American Dream as well as our state of being torn apart from one another by the current political climate. I deliberately omit any likenesses of specific or identifiable place or person in order to remove any associations or prejudices that may push the viewer in a too-specific direction or push them away. In doing this I hope to allow the viewer to approach the work and consider it on their own terms. Finally, the accompanying videos are the outgrowth of a grant project documenting the drawing process and are intended to amplify and expand upon the themes addressed in the drawings.
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Laura Sussman-Randall was raised in New Jersey where she enjoyed many artistic influences; the art history books and work of her mother, artist Mary Lou Sussman, access to a strong local center for the arts, and proximity to the museums, galleries and art scene of New York City. She graduated University of Michigan with a Bachelor's of Fine Art and Bachelor's of History of Art. She currently lives and works in Mint Hill, NC with husband Mike Randall, and their son, Sam. Ms. Sussman-Randall is an Arts & Science Council 2014 Regional Project Artist Grant recipient and Phoenix Gallery 2017-18 Fellowship recipient. Her work has become a part of private collections in Charlotte, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Sydney. She is currently represented by Guthrie Contemporary in New Orleans, LA.
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Laura Sussman-Randall
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Website: http//www.laurasussmanrandall.com
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You Tube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCmLWuUKHkHFNtsewl0SliEg