Barbara J. Sussman

The environment to which I was exposed as a child, adolescent and an adult is one filled with painting, art and the expression of creativity. Painting as a language is a tradition that I embrace. I am a fourth generation American artist.

The tradition of art is established. My personal focus has been to find my own voice within the tradition, which includes craftsmanship and attention to the integrity of materials used.

Barbara J. Sussman is the fourth generation of American artists in her family. Beginning with her great-grandfather, their brief biographies are as follows:

HENRY HOBART NICHOLS (1838-1886) Wood engraver who made a specialty of engraving illustrations of scientific works. Illustrated three volume edition, hand colored wood engravings, North American Birds” by Baird, Brewer, & Ridgeway (1874). Awarded First Class Medal at the Centennial Exhibit in Philadelphia, 1876.

HOBART NICHOLS, N.A. (1869-1962) Landscape painter. Paintings in many collections including Metropolitan Museum, NYC, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.; received numerous awards, including the Altman Prize at the National Academy of Design. Served as president of the Academy for ten years, Director of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation for thirty years, President of the Salamagundi Club and the American Water Color Society. Paintings reproduced in many publications and books.

SPENCER BAIRD NICHOLS, N.A. (1875-1950) Painter, muralist, and book illustrator. Paintings in many museums and collections, including the National Museum, Washington, D.C.; Metropolitan, N.Y.C.; and Montclair Museum, N.J. His portrait of Vice President Stephenson is in the Speaker’s Lobby, The Capitol. Awarded First Prize in 1908, Paris Exposition. Chief Designer for Tiffany Studios until the beginning of WWI. Illustrated Dickens’, Wilde’s, and Noye’s books. Worked in the Museum of Natural History on many dioramas. Received numerous prizes, including two Ranger Fund Purchase Awards, Altman Prize at National Academy. Many of his paintings were destroyed in a disastrous fire in his studio.

HELEN NICHOLS JACOBS (1924- ) Painter, instructor, recipient of over 75 honors and medals at juried national exhibitions. Member American Artist Professional League, Kent Art Association, Salamagundi Club. Instructor at the Ridgewood Art Institute 1968-93. Works have been included in numerous collections and exhibitions including Bergen Community Museum, Newark Museum, N.J.; National Arts Club, Lever House, Salamagundi Club, N.Y.C.

Art Consultant, Appraiser,

and Curator

Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center, Blue Hill Plaza, Pearl River, New York, NY,
 Current Exhibition, Influence & Inspiration, 2013-present
McKinsey & Co., Inc. New York, NY, 1995-present
Covington & Burling, New York, NY, 1985-2015
HELP USA, Genesis Clinton Hill Project, Newark, NJ. Kramer & Marks, 2012
Covington & Burling, New York, NY, 1985-2015
OSilas Gallery at Concordia College The Nichols Brothers, co-curated 2010
ASA Landscape for Landscape, 10th Exhibition, Greenwich, NY, 2010
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Children’s Psychiatric, NYC, 2010
Memorial Sloan Kettering Urgent Care Center, New York, NY, 2003
Memorial Sloan Kettering Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, New York, NY, 2001
Institute Medical Humanism, Southwestern Vermont Medical, Bennington, VT, 2002-2005
The Bond Market Association, New York, NY, 1992-2002
Art Consultant Curator, Vanity Fair Magazine, Photographic Traveling Exhibition, Condé Nast, New York, NY, 1989-1998

Publications

Aesthetic Genetic, Art Families, Blue Hill Art & Cultural Center, La Palme Magazine, Spring, Los Angeles, CA, 2015
Molecules of Love, Collections of Writings Lorrie Goulet, Forward by Barbara J. Sussman, Published by Free Scholar Press, 2015
Skowhegan Oral History Project, Interview of Barbara J. Sussman, 2014
Who’s Who of American Art, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who Among Professional, Marquis Who’s Who, 27th Edition, 1999

Panelist

Three Artists, Three Colleagues, Three Centurians, William F. Draper, Trafford Klots and Richard Seyffert Exhibition, The Century Club, New York, NY, Guest Panelist

Selected Collections

Atlantic House Hotel, Scarborough, ME
The Bond Market Assoc., New York, NY
Baker & Daniel’s, Indianapolis, IN
Hoglund & Pierce, Portland, ME
People’s Heritage Bank, Portland, ME
Jensen Baird, Gardner & Henry, Portland, ME
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Mr. Micah Green, Patton Boggs, LLP, Washington, DC
Private Collections: France, Germany, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT, 2006
Open Space Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2002
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 2002
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1999
Kunstsalon Wolfsberg, Zurich, Switzerland, 1996
Greenhut Gallery, Portland, ME, 1995
Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, VT, 1993
Hobe Sound Galleries North, Brunswick, ME, 1991
Hobe Sound Galleries North Brunswick, ME, 1989
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1988
Susan Blanchard Gallery, New York, NY, 1988
St. Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish, NH, 1987
Hobe Sound Galleries North, Portland, ME, 1985
Hobe Sound Galleries South, Hobe Sound, FL, 1984

Selected Group Exhibitions

Book and Object Biennial, National Museum of Romanian Literature, Calea Grivitea. Bucharest, Romania, 2018
Landcapes for Landsake, Agricultural Stewardship Assoc., Greenwich, NY, 2017
Preine Hall Benefit Exhibition, SVA, New York, NY, 2012
Annual North Bennington Art in the Park, North Bennington, VT, 2011-2012
Variation of a Theme, Swain Galleries, Plainfield, NJ, 2006
Newman Galleries, Philadelphia, PA, 2004-2005
Art Students League Invitational at Salander O’Reilly, New York, NY, 2004
Rochefort en Terre Residency, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, 2004
175th Juried Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, NY, 2004
Language of Reflection, PSA Art Showcase, New York, 1998
Small Works, Winter Olympics, Nagano, Japan, 1998
PSA Art Showcase XI, New York, NY, 1997
Solo Exhibition, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1996
Mohawk Regional Juried Exhibition, Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY, 1996
Lincoln Center, Cork Gallery, New York, NY, 1995
Curator’s Choice, Police Building, New York, NY, 1994
Brooke Alexander, New York, NY, 1992
Provincetown Art Museum, Provincetown, MA, 1990
Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY, 1992
Musee de Rochefort en Terre, Brittany, France, 1990
National Arts Club, New York, NY, 1989
Kent Art Association, Kent, CT, 1988
Midtown Gallery, New York, NY, 1987-92
Ceres Gallery, New York, NY, 1984
Skowhegan Artists, Colby Museum, Colby College, Waterville, ME, 1983
PS Galleries, Tulsa, OK, 1982
PS Galleries, Dallas, TX, 1982
Bergen County Museum, Paramus, NJ, 1982
Four Generations, An American Art Family, Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NJ, 1980

Awards, Fellowships & Honors

Artist Residency, North College, Scotland, 1999
New York State Foundation of the Arts. Artist in Residency, Cheney Library, Hoosick Falls, NY, 1996 and 1998
National Founders Day Award, PTA, Hoosick Falls Central School, 1996
Jay Hall Connoway Award, Landscape, Landscape Award, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1990
International Sculpture Concours, US Team, placing 3rd, 1982
Fresco Mural Award, Skowhegan, ME, 1976
Rhode Island School of Design, Honors in Painting, 1974

Reviews

Art Our Connection to Spirit by C.J. King, Manchester Journal, Manchester, VT, 1999
Unfailing Faith Fourth Generation Artist by Ken Greenleaf, 1995
Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, ME. October 22, 1995
Schenectady Gazeteer, Schenectady, NY, January 10, 1995
Albany Times Union, Albany, NY, 1994
Manchester Journal, Manchester,VT, July 22, 1993
Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT, July 28, 1992
Maine SundayTelegram, Portland, ME, June 25, 1989
Press & Post, Hoosick, NY, August 30, 1988
Leisure Weekly, NH, September 10, 1987
Palm Beach Focus, Palm Beach, FL, 1986
The Maine Times, Portland, ME, December 16, 1983

Civic Services

2012-18 President, (CiviCure) Civic and Cultural Restoration Corp., Hoosick Falls, NY
2000-present Board Member (CiviCure) Civic and Cultural Restoration Corp., Hoosick Falls, NY
2008-10, 2016-18, President, Treasurer 2011-12. American Society of Appraisers, Hudson Valley Chapter, Reston, VA
1998-2002 President, Board Member 1992-2002. Cheney Library, Hoosick Falls, NY,
1990-96 Co-President, Hoosick Falls Central School PTA, Hoosick Falls, NY

Education

BS, Arts Administration, Skidmore College, University Without Walls, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2005
George Washington University, Center for Professional Development, Washington, DC
American Society of Appraisers Personal Property Valuation, Appraisal Studies in the Fine and Decorative Arts. 2002-03
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, 1972-73
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan ME, Summer 1976,Dean of Students: 1977, 1982, 1983
The Art Students League of New York, NY, 1971, 1975-1978

Professional Affiliations

Art Students League, Life Member, awarded 1978
Artist Fellowship, Member, New York, NY, since 1989