Biography
Susan Fraser-Hughes, born in 1966 in Queensland, Australia, is a contemporary artist currently based in Vancouver, Canada. Her artistic practice is firmly rooted in the discipline of drawing, with a particular focus on the medium of charcoal on frosted mylar. Fraser-Hughes has garnered critical recognition for her profound exploration of the interrelationship between light and darkness, a thematic inquiry that is meticulously articulated through her nuanced and atmospheric compositions.
Fraser-Hughes' oeuvre is marked by a sustained engagement with the notions of landscape, objects, and the intertwined concepts of place and self. Her academic credentials are exemplary, including a PhD in Fine Arts (2017), a Master of Fine Arts (2002), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2000). These academic achievements have informed and enriched her artistic methodology, which is characterized by a rigorous attention to detail and an acute sensitivity to the material properties of her medium. Noteworthy projects within her body of work include "Every Rose, a Different Story," "Woods," "Just a Moment," "Home," and "Heads," each of which embodies her complex investigations into perception and the human condition.
The work of Susan Fraser-Hughes has been exhibited in several esteemed institutions, including Understory at Seymour Gallery in Aberystwyth, Wales; Juxtaposition at Trianon Gallery in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada; Drawn at Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Three Definitions of the Sublime at Triangle Gallery in Calgary, Canada. Her contributions to the field of contemporary art are further evidenced by her inclusion in the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, reflecting her significant impact and scholarly approach to the discipline.
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Education
2017 Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom, PhD in Fine Arts
2002 The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Master of Fine Arts
2000 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta, Bachelor of Fine Arts with distinction
2001 Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, Art History Summer School
1992 Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia, Bachelor of Education
Solo shows
2015 Resonance, Vancouver, Canada
2014 Corbels, Gallery B, Aberystwyth, Wales
2014 Heads, Little Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2008 Lands Formed, Virginia Christopher, Calgary, Alberta
2006 Transition, Mezzanine Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2005 Juxtaposition, Trianon Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2002 Momentum, Little Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Exordium, Marion Nicholl Plus 15, Calgary, Alberta
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Land and Sea, VisualSpace Gallery, Vancouver
2024 Understory, Seymour Art Gallery, Deep Cove,
2022 Many Gardens, Calgary Library, Calgary
2020 Solidarite, INAOSSIEN Art, Online
2019 Drawn, Manifest Gallery, Cincinatti, Ohio
2019 Human Nature, Colours of Humanity Gallery, Online
2019 Identity, Envision Arts, Online
2013 Unity in Opposition, a Joint Show With Eric Cameron, Curated by Nicholas Wade, Trianon Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2010 Art-O-Rama, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2008 Art-O-Rama, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2008 Art at the Castle, Casa Loma, Toronto, Ontario
2007 Faculty Exhibition, Nickle Arts Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2007 Three Definitions of the Sublime, a Joint Show With Helena Hadala and Louise Pagè, Curated by Eric Cameron,
Triangle Gallery, Calgary
2006 The 27 Year Old Show, Virginia Christopher, Calgary, Alberta
2006 Studio and Christmas Art Show, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2006 New Work, New Artists, Virginia Christopher, Calgary, Alberta
2006 Making a Mark, Winter Street Studios, Houston, Texas
2005 Faculty Exhibition, Nickle Arts Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2005 The Studio, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2005 New York Arts Festival, Spirit Club, New York, NY
2004 The Studio, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2002 Link (MFA Show), Nickle Arts Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2001 Non–Existence, Existence, Little Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Graduating Show, BFA, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Immersion, Marion Nicholl Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Elements, Harrison Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1999 Painting Graduate Show, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
1999 Pull of Heaven and Earth, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
1999 BEAM, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
1999 Awards Show, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
1998 Spring Show and Sale, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
1997 Awards Show, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
Awards & Recognition
2024 Patterns of Memory (1st Prize), Vedica Art Studios and Gallery, Mumbai, India
2024 Black and White (1st Place), Colours of Humanity Art Gallery
2019 London International Creative Competition, LICC Finalist
2011 London International Creative Competition, LICC Category Winner
2004 Finalist – Experimental Category, Artists Magazine
2001 Alberta Heritage Masters Scholarship, U of C, Calgary
2001 Alberta Heritage Scholarship, U of C, Calgary
Faculty of Fine Arts Graduate Research and Travel, ACAD, Calgary
Grumbacher / Davies International Prize, ACAD, Calgary
BEAM, ACAD, Calgary
Masters Gallery Scholarship, ACAD, Calgary
Illingworth Kerr Scholarship, ACAD, Calgary
Selected Publications
2024 Art On World
2024 Argument 07, Artistic and literary magazine
2023 Art On World
2022 Art On World
2020 INDA 14 Manifest International Drawing Annual
2020 Solidarite Catalogue, INAOSSiEN Art
2020 Envision Arts Magazine
2019 Envision Arts Magazine
2011 London International Creative Competition (LICC) Art Book
Selected Collections
2004 Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Alberta
Selected Press, Podcasts
Deepesh Moolchandani and Siddhant Khattri, "Susan Fraser-Hughes: Charcoal Hyper-realistic artist from Vancouver, Canada" in Compounding Square (Podcast) (2024) at [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nN3Sy2bxXC2EcIa5iNZRC?si=S68jfv3ZTjKgwZ49CmM1Ug] published on 25th April, 2024.
Lisa Garr, "The Aware Show presents: Susan Fraser-Hughes" in The Aware Show (Podcast) (2024) at [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGbi8rpuE8Q] published on 29 May, 2024.
Ananya Tantia, "Susan Fraser Hughes | Artist | Podcast" in Coffee with Ananya (Podcast) (2022) at [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPsAC_HFD3tIM1D3EvDcYGg/videos] published on 28th August, 2022.
Max Zheng, "Passion of an Artist | Susan Fraser-Hughes" in Human Prosperity (Podcast) (2021) at [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gODAxJ4HcGuk5BgYy9B0m?si=de0e9711198344c4] published in February, 2021.