Susu's work in a styled room
Susu portrait
Artist

Susu

Su Su utilizes a specialized syringe technique to weave together American pop culture and traditional Chinese symbols on silk.

20 Works

About Susu

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Transparent compensation, always.

Su Su is a Chinese-born visual artist whose practice examines the nuances of cultural identity and the immigrant experience. After receiving her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, she served as a professor at the University’s School of Drama from 2015 to 2021. Her work is recognized for its technical precision and has been exhibited at prestigious institutions including the Andy Warhol Museum and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Her process is defined by a unique method she calls "Bombyx" painting, which involves the meticulous injection of oil paint through silk using a syringe. This technique allows her to build a surrealist take on figurative realism, often centering on female self-portraiture. By integrating traditional Chinese symbolism with American pop culture icons, Su Su creates a complex visual dialogue that earned her nominations for the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award and the Eben Demarest Trust Award.

Visual voice

Su Su’s aesthetic blends figurative realism with surrealist elements, characterized by the delicate texture of oil paint applied to silk. Her work frequently features the juxtaposition of Western icons like Disney’s Bambi against traditional Chinese motifs to explore the navigation of dual identities.
Bombyx Painting TechniqueFigurative RealismChinese SymbolismPop Culture JuxtapositionFemale Self-PortraitureImmigrant Identity
Good to know

Susu — questions answered

What is Su Su’s signature 'Bombyx' technique?

The Bombyx technique is a specialized method developed by Su Su that involves injecting oil paint through silk fabric using a syringe.

What are the recurring themes in Su Su’s work?

Her work primarily explores the navigation of cultural identity as an immigrant, female self-portraiture, and the blending of American pop culture with traditional Chinese symbols.

Where has Su Su’s art been exhibited?

Su Su has exhibited at major institutions such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Carnegie Museum of Art.

What is the artist's academic background?

Su Su holds an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University and taught as a professor at the University’s School of Drama for six years.

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