Combining painting and sculpture into innovative forms
Susan Maddux is a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Japanese descent. Growing up in Hawaii surrounded by vivid colors and sensations, she formed a deep spiritual connection to the natural environment of the islands that shaped her artistic perspective from an early age.
Susan’s background in textile design also plays a central role in her work, influencing her process-driven approach as well as her use of pattern, color and form.
Her career as a designer prompted her to explore different forms a painting could take. By chance, she discovered the power of folding: A simple, ancient gesture with ties to domestic work, traditional garment construction, and folk craft. A life changing exploration of material and personal transformation began.
Totem-like, the works are made from raw canvas stained with washes of pigment which are meticulously folded to create dimensional forms transmuting painting into sculpture.
Serving as a metaphor for the body at human scale, her textile installations reflect the tension between concealment and revelation, surface and depth. Within the layered textures and hidden depths of each piece, there is an invitation to reflect on the ever-present potential of creative expansion.
Susan lectures and mentors artists, sharing her insights on the intersection of art, design, process, and purpose. Her pieces are held in collections across the United States, resonating with audiences drawn to their presence, luminous color, and evocative forms.
