Susan has earned recognition in many juried and judged venues, including art exhibits and major quilt festivals. Her work has gathered finalist awards, “juror’s choice” and “viewer’s favorite” distinctions.
Susan Is a Juried Artist Member of SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) and an Associate Member of the Cambridge Art Association in Massachusetts.
Patience
Susan V. Polansky conjures believable atmospheres within the borders of her work. Combining fabric and thread with a collage technique, she creates detailed artworks that resemble both paintings and quilts. Susan’s art has been juried into many renown shows, including Quilt National, garnering awards and attention. Her work has been featured in publications such as Art and Antiques, Quilter’s Newsletter and Quilter’s World. Her pieces, “Exuberance” and “Pastoral Disturbance,” were featured in the book, 500 Art Quilts: An Inspiring Collection of Contemporary Work, co-authored by Ray Hemachandra and Karey Bresenham.
Susan began her artistic journey in the New Jersey greenhouses of her childhood. Her family’s wholesale flower growing operation surrounded her with a wealth of color and sensory stimuli. She remembers being fascinated with the changing quality of light as the day’s weather passed the whitewashed glass overhead. She credits the hours spent working on row after row of plants as a formative source for her patience and love of handwork. She went on to receive Bachelor’s Degrees in Studio Arts and Biology from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Career transitions have included graphic artist, package designer, muralist and furniture painter, homemaker and mother. She began her first quilt more than thirty years ago; a hand appliquéd and quilted piece that took seven years to finish. Traditional quilting techniques did not continue to hold her interest after this, but she knew she had found a way to combine her sewing skills, fine art knowledge and eye for detail. Although textiles are her preferred medium, she also enjoys exploring other avenues for creative expression.
Family continues to be most important to Susan, but hands-on caretaking activities are mostly behind her. She relishes the idea of taking over as much of the house for studio space as possible, equipping one room with various sewing machines and another with painting and computer areas. Her beloved husband is an accomplished painter. Occasionally they use their different mediums to approach the same subject material, often sparked by their extensive travel adventures. They consider themselves to be incredibly fortunate to have their children, spouses and grandchild close by, both in distance and emotion.
