Susan Zwirn

Artist Statement

To capture the infinite qualities of nature takes me on unpredictable journeys. Ranging from recognizable vistas to abstracted evocations of space, my palette is influenced by seasonal change, light and perspectives fostered by emotion. I also do figurative work when people from my travels compel a record of permanence. Painting is my attempt to grasp the dynamic present. I search for structure beneath the surface beauty, but mainly chaos of nature. I invite the viewer along with me, conflating perspectives, inhabiting multiple times and spaces . I play with spatial perception.

Biography

Susan Goetz Zwirn’s career as artist and art professor has brought her to teach at five universities, (Cornell, St. John’s, Molloy, CW Post), culminating in the position of Full Professor at Hofstra University. Zwirn has lectured extensively nationally and abroad on art, art history, the artist-teacher, and the brain and its relation to art and learning. Certified in two disciplines, Susan is also passionate about the state of America and the world. She has recently moved from NY to CA where she has established a studio at the Novato Arts Center. Her paintings are in corporate and private collections, nationally and internationally, as well as the victim of art theft. When not painting, she enjoys pleasures found with friends, children, skiing and reading.

Art Medium(s)

Acrylic Paint, Watercolor, Drawing

Group Studio Details

Susan practices her painting in a studio in the Novato Arts Center, previously a part of the MarinMoca Museum of Contemporary Art. Please contact her if you would like to visit. Her email is susangzwirn@gmail.com.

Group Exhibitions

EXHIBITIONS

2025. Tiburon-Belvedere Library Juried Exhibit, CA.
2024 MarinMoca Museum of Contemporary Art
2024 Marin Society of Artists, Award, On the Road
2023 Marin Society of Artists, Award 2014 Hagedorn Hall, Hofstra University  2010 Ashwag Hall, East Hampton, ‘The Usual Suspects’  2007 Hagedorn Hall, Hofstra University, Solo exhibit, Children of India, photographs  2005 Port Washington Library Gallery, Solo exhibit: Landscape Boundaries  1996 Gallery Authentique, NY 1996 Art 54 Gallery, Soho, NY 1997 Hecksher Museum, Award 1997 Winners Show, Fine Arts Museum of Long Island 1999 Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, Award, ‘First Prize’ 1996 Port Washington Library Exhibition 1994 Artists Network of Great Neck, NY 1993 Elaine Benson Gallery, NY 1993 Artists Network of Great Neck, NY 1992 Hecksher Museum, NY 1992 Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts-NY 1992 Green Gallery, CT 1991 Gallery East, NY 1991 Sabbeth Gallery, Wunsch Arts Center, NY 1991 New York Institute of Technology, NY 1991 Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts, NY 1991 Manhasset Art Association, C.W. Post College, NY, Award 1991 Manhasset Art Association, North Shore Unitarian Church, NY, Award 1991 Aesthetics ’90, Kansas, Award, 2nd place. National competition 1990 CW Post College, Bert Lipper Memorial Award, “Best in Show” 1990 Hecksher Museum, NY, Juried Exhibit 1990 National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylics 1991 Chelsea Mansion, Nassau County Exhibition, NY 1989 Elaine Benson Gallery, NY 1988 Hutchins Gallery, C.W. Post College, NY, Award 1988 Manhasset Art Association, Great Neck House, Award 1986 Manhasset Art Association, C.W. Post College, Award, “First Prize”

Paintings in corporate, university and private collections, US and abroad.  

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Zwirn, S.G., (2021). Art in area of conflict: Kosovo, Teaching Social Studies., 21, 1, 89-95.

Zwirn, S.G., Plonczak, I., (2015) Understanding the art in science and the science in art through crosscutting concepts. NSTA (National Science Teacher Association). Science Scope, March, 58-63.

Zwirn, S. G. (2015). Butterflies of the soul; Santiago Ramon y Cajal: Art and neuron theory. Journal of Aesthetic Education, University of Illinois Press, 49(4), Winter, 105-119.

Zwirn, S. G., VandeZande, R. (2015). Differences in art and design education or differences in conceptions of creativity, Journal of Creative Behavior, Wiley Publications. 10.1002/jocb.98, 1-15.

Zwirn, S. G., Libresco, A. (2010). Art in social studies assessment: Untapped resource for social studies education. Art Education and Social Justice Issue, Art Education, National Art Education Association, 63(5), 29-35.

Zwirn, S. G., Graham, M. (2010). How being a K-12 artist can influence art education. Studies in Art Education, National Art Education Association, 51(3), 219-232.

Zwirn, S. G. (2009). Seeking causes for the marginalization of the arts in American education. Access: Critical Perspectives on Communication, Cultural and Policy Studies, Creative Arts in Policy and Practice. 28, (1), 15-25.

Zwirn, S. G., Fusco, E. (2009). Pinocchio, son of Leonardo, survivor of Vesuvius; transformation of Italian folklore in shadow theater. Childhood Education, Association for Childhood Education International, 223-229.

Zwirn, S. G. (2008). Artists/Teachers through a drawing course: Developing teaching strategies and assessments from our artistic struggles. Canadian Art Teacher, Canadian Society for Education through Art, 6 and 7, double issue (1 and 2), 24-29.

Zwirn, S. G. (2006). Artist or art teacher: The function of gender in role and identity formation. The Teaching Artist Journal: Erlbaum Associates, 4(2), Spring, 167-175.

Zwirn, S. G. (2006). Traversing the disciplines with grace: Understanding science concepts through the making of art. Connect, journal for science educators (September-October), 12-15.

Zwirn, S. G. (2006). Of paint, pantomime, pirouette and pitch. Educational Leadership, AERA (July-August), video included with on-line edition.

Zwirn, S. G., M. Graham. (2005). Annual Themed 2005 issue that focuses on “Schools that Teachers and Children Deserve”- Crossing Borders: The Arts Engage Academics and Inspire Children. Childhood Education (June), 267-273.

Zwirn, S. G. (2005). The teacher-artist model: The reconciliation of role. Arts and Learning Research Journal: McGill Printing Services. American Educational Research Association, 21, 1/ April.

Zwirn, S. G. (2005). Teachers who create, artists who teach. Journal of Creative Behavior. The Creative Education Foundation, 39(2), Summer, 111-122.

Zwirn, S. G. (2004). Men and women at work: The portrayal of American workers by three artists of the 1930s and 1940s. Art Education, National Art Education Association, 57(2).

Journal Articles
Zwirn, S. G. (2005). Creative teachers, creative students: Arts infused learning experiences for early childhood educators. Hofstra Horizons.

Zwirn, S. G. (2004). Americans portray work and workers. Social Science Docket, 4 w/s (1), 25-32.

Journal Reviewer
The Journal of Creative Behavior

Videos

Zwirn, S.G. (2020). Creativity as a Human Right. Art Educators on Areas of Global Conflict. (Director and producer). Edited by Brian Williams and Lisa Lakeman.

Zwirn, S.G. (2004). Creative Teachers Creative Students: Arts Infused Learning Experience for Early Childhood Educators (25-minute video, presenting the Arts Infusion Grant and shown on Ed Leadership on-line website).

Awards

AWARDS
Marin Society of Artists, CA, Award
Marin Society of Artists, CA, Award, 2023   Hecksher Museum, NY Second Prize   Fine Arts Museum of Long Island,
NY Winners Show,    Fine Arts Museum of Long Island, First Prize     Hecksher Museum, Honorable Mention   Manhasset Art Association, C.W. Post College, NY, First Prize   Manhasset Art Association, North Shore Unitarian
Church, First Prize   Aesthetics ’90, National Exhibit, Kansas, Second Prize  Hutchins Gallery, C.W. Post College,
NY, Best in Show  Manhasset Art Association, Great Neck House, First Prize   Manhasset Art Association, C.W.
Post College, Second Prize 

Press

Art Reviews: Susan Goetz Zwirn
Helen Harrison, New York Times, 1996
“Susan Goetz Zwirn’s Landscape Boundaries, winner of an honorable mention, shows how abstraction can push a familiar scene to the limits of recognizability. Using unnaturally intense colors and faceted forms, the painter reinterprets a tranquil harbor in imaginative terms period.”www.susangzwirnpaintings.com/featured-painting.html

Russell Hausman
Art Historian and Critic (professional journal)
“Susan Zwirn’s impressionistic ‘Turbulent Reflections’ (acrylic) is a real beauty. A wooded landscape with a foreground of carefully woven strands of subtle colors that ‘catch the moment’ with rare sensitivity. Lots of poetry here.
The color harmonies are outstanding. The bottom two thirds of this painting are so good one is almost inclined to feel the upper third to have been neglected. This one would seem very much at home in a museum.”_gjm7983.jpg

Eric Ernst
Review of Selected Paintings, East Hampton Star, July 1989
“Powerful Winter – Susan Goetz Zwirn’s painting ‘Winter’ offers a cascading cacophony of blues that are both random and ordered. There is a structure of chance evolution, as it were, that in its entirety is both quiet and evocative. The sense of cold is both palpable and powerful.”powerful_winter__thoughts_of_aaronimg_3246_copy.jpg

Robert Carriola
Professional Newsletter, April 1990
“ ‘Best in Show’ award for ‘Main Street.’ The award winners were chosen based on the considerations for wholesome aesthetic order, command of tools and materials and transformation of matter into a new reality of illusion. The Best in Show Oil Painting embraces excellent composition in contemporary design shapes. Integrated high key colors with subordinate repeats for cohesion, and a particularly interesting space movement which fluctuates between a 2-D and 3-D illusion, the technique and concept is noteworthy.”_gjm7980.jpg

Carole PaquetteHuntington Press, 35th annual LI exhibit at Hecksher Museum”The works include the powerful mood piece…In Susan Goetz Zwirn’s ‘Thoughts of Aaron,’ blue and lavender shapes form a forest that is washed by lighter patterns which create tree trunks resembling legs.”powerful_winter__thoughts_of_aaronimg_3246_copy.jpg