Gary Lawrence Sussman
Fellow of National Sculpture Society
G. L. Sussman
Monument Memorials
A Monument to Pete Seeger, American singer, songwriter, musician. Over Life-size bronze portrait figure of Pete Seeger sitting with his banjo on 23 tons of Danby White Imperial Marble, carving including protestors, slogans, environmental representation of the Clearwater Sloop on the Hudson River, located at the Puffin Foundation, in Teaneck NJ, 2018. Click here for a documentary film of the making of this monument and the restoration of the Clearwater Sloop (head to the Making Pete section at the 37:11 mark).
Memorial for Perry Rosenstein, philanthropist, founder of the Puffin Foundation. Life-size bronze memorial monument, located at the Teaneck Creek Conservancy a 43 acre park, in Teaneck NJ. Installed, (plantings not completed) April 21, 2025.
Christopher (Kit) Lucas, filmmaker, writer, director. Life-size plaster with bronze patina (portrait study for a monument in the making), March 2025.
Dr. Catherine Bateson, (scholar, writer, daughter of Margaret Mead) study for the Margaret Mead Monument, slated for the grounds of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. Life-size plaster, 2016.
Memorial Portrait A. Bartlett Giamatti, Yale Scroll & Key, New Haven, CT. Life-size White Carrara marble, 1992.
Memorial Portrait, James Francis Mentink, Victim of Violent Crimes Memorial, Cascade Falls, MI. Life-size bronze on marble base in a plaza, 2005.
Washington Irving, (3) Busts National Historic Site, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside Park, Irvington, New York; Irving Trust Bank (Museum of the Bank of New York); Town Hall, Irving, Texas. Over Life-Size Bronze Busts, 1982.
Public & Private Monuments
Rockefeller Center, New York, 13’ x 11’ x 2” relief, depicting radio, and television encompassing the globe in a deco style representing the period. Aluminum nickel silver enamel and bronze, 1997.
Rainforest Steamroom, Westport, CT, 14’ x 9’ 8’, design cast waterproof gypsum, full scale high and low relief, 1996-1997.
Richard Nash Gould, architect designed a free standing building for Marlo Thomas in Westport, CT. This building houses a steam room which Mr. Sussman designed, conceived and created a 360 degree rainforest, 1500 square foot bas relief environment out of appropriate materials to withstand the extreme temperatures and environmental conditions. The room space incorporates a door with a life-size carved ebony monkey door handle. The room itself, as per the blueprints, has seven sides with only one right angle. The project scope required the strict adherence to the architectural, engineering, and design specifications. As the sculptor, chief designer, and project leader, Mr. Sussman assembled a team of seven professionals necessary to accomplish the task in the time allotted. Coordination with Ken Billington, the theatre lighting designer, was also incorporated for the project. Proficient expertise in coordinating the team to solve many complicated and technical problems along with the aesthetic and artistic concerns are necessary in a project of this scale. The delivery and installation of the entire steam room was completed under Mr. Sussman’s leadership and supervision. The project was completed in 1995 within budget, and on time.
Radio City Musical Hall, executive offices, New York, NY 1990. 2 ½’ diameter cloisonné of the head of Athena, 1990.
A bronze cloisonne 2 foot relief of the goddess Athena was created for installation in the private executive elevator at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Mr. Sussman was hired as the sculptor to create the relief based on the criteria of Radio City Music Hall. The artist worked with the architectural firm, Brennan, Beer, Gorman with architect Hugo Consuegra under the directorship of Alan Hantman, director of design for Rockefeller Center. Adherence to the detailed requirements for the specifications was necessary.
Statue of Liberty for Proctor & Gamble, Over Life Carving, Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; and New York, NY; Cincinnati, OH; 1987-1988.
Ivory Soap, in celebration of its 125th anniversary, unveiled a to-scale replica of the Statue of Liberty, carved out of Ivory Aloe, by Mr. Sussman. With this project Mr. Sussman carved a world record for the largest soap carving of 12-Foot Soap Replica of Statue of Liberty. The soap sculpture was unveiled live on the television show, USA TODAY in September 2002. The soap weighed 6,000 pounds. Mr. Sussman said the most difficult part was getting the sculpture into the studio, because soap is slippery and hard to maneuver.
Portraits
Final Portrait of Perry Rosenstein
Perry Rosentein Memorial, Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Teaneck, NJ
plaster (prior to cast bronze)
life size
2025
“Shira”
Bennington, Vermont
plaster, life size, 2002
A lifesize hydrocal cast with a casein patination done from life of this young lady in the midst of her maturation. This portrait attempts to express her exuberance and positive outlook at this time in her life.
“Young Woman”
Private Collection
commissioned portrait
life size
2005
This life-size hydrostone portrait is shown in clay. Completed on location in an apartment, the likeness of the young person was captured. The finished patination was selected by the family.
“Bilando a la Vida”
Collection of the Artist
plaster/gold leaf
life size
2000
This life size hydrostone portrait bust of the flamenco dancer Dolores Gonzales was done originally as a portrait demonstration for Mr. Sussmans’s class at the Art Students League in NY. Finding within it, the essence and poise of the erect flamenco presence. This portrait represents and captures a moment in a dancers life.
“Ed Moses”
Collection of the Artist
terra cotta
life size
1982
While serving as Dean of Students at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1982, the painters, Ed Moses and Bari Goodman, along with the sculptors Donna Dennis and Bill King, sat for portraits.
“Espen”
Collection of the Artist
plaster
life size
1995
Related through marriage, the contemporary Norwegian writer visited Mr. Sussman in his country studio in New York State, with his family. Sculpted from life, while Mr. Havaardsholm read and wrote with family members present in one activity or another, his youngest son asked while looking at the clay portrait “why the sculpture did not talk?” At that moment, Mr. Sussman said “Finis!”.
“William King”
Collection of the Artist
terra cotta, wire and wood
life size
1983
This piece was included in the exhibition called ‘Portrait Sculpture: Contemporary Points of View’ which opened at the State University of New York at Buffalo Nov 11 1983-Dec 7 1983 At the Bethune Gallery Department of Art and Art History.
Bill and Mr. Sussman were working at the Skowhegan school together in the summer of 1982. Mr. Sussman asked him to sit for a portrait. The first pose he took seemed to be both deep in contemplation as well as the sensation one has when exhausted. Your head falls back, whiplashed. All the while Bill’s hands were busy making clay objects.
“Rene Vogt”
Memorial Portrait Head: Rene Vogt
bronze
life size
2004
“Wisdom”
Portrait of an unnamed friend
life size
fired terra cotta
1978
“Steve Clark”
Collection of the Artist
plaster
life size
1982
This portrait done from life came about from an unexpected visit from the sculptor and mold maker to Mr. Sussman at the Sculpture Center in NY. In his capacity as Director, Mr. Sussman was often called upon to substitute in any of the disciplines offered at the Sculpture School. It just so happened Mr. Sussman was “filling in” for a figure study in clay class, when the model didn’t show and Mr. Clark walked into the studio. Mr. Clark graciously volunteered to sit, this portrait is a result.
“Michael J. Mc Leod”
Private Collection
terra cotta
life size
1976
Donna Dennis
Collection of the Artist
plaster
life size
1982
While serving as Dean of Students at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1982, the painters, Ed Moses and Bari Goodman, along with the sculptors Donna Dennis and Bill King, sat for portraits.
“Max”
Collection of the Artist
plaster/gold leaf
life size
2000
This life-size portrait was done from life when the artist’s son was six months old. It is in the collection of the artist.
Biography
Mr. Sussman was the Sculpture Technician at Skowhegan, Skowhegan, ME, 1976; past Director of the Sculpture Center, New York, NY, 1979-1989; Dean of Skowhegan, 1977, 1982, 1983; Adjunct Lecturer of Sculpture, City College of NY, NY 1982-1984; Advisor for the International School of Art, Umbria, Italy, 1993; past Founding Director of the Art Students League Vytlacil Residency Campus in Rockland County, New York, 2004-2014; and Instructor of Sculpture, Drawing, Art Students League of New York, NY, 1996-2014. Mr. Sussman was elected as a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, since 1992 through the present.
Mr. Sussman studied at the John Herron Art School; The Art Students League; the École des Beaux-Art, Paris, France, and the Academy in Florence, Italy. In 1973, he was awarded an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant. Upon his return, he became apprentice to Jose de Creeft, 1971-1976 and in 1979 became the Director of the Sculpture Center in New York until 1989.
Exhibitions
Blue Hill Art & Cultural Center, Pearl River, NY, 2022
Athens Cultural Center, Athens NY, 2017
New York Public Library, Riverside Branch, New York, NY, 2016
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1999, 2000
Art Students League, New York, NY, 1992-2014
Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish, NH, 1987
Sculpture Center, New York, NY 1980-1989
Bethune Gallery SUNY at Buffalo, NY, 1986
Lever House, New York, NY 1985
Colby College, Colby, ME, 1977
Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NY, 1977
Maine Coast Artists, Belfast, ME, 1976
Awards
G.L. Sussman was the 2014 recipient of “Dr. Jack R. Anderson Lectureship” from the American Academy of Facial, Plastic, and a Reconstructive Surgeons 2014. Click to see the video.
1973 McDowell Traveling Scholarship of the Art Students League of New York, for a year study of art abroad.
Notable Publications
Linea, Periodical produced by the Art Students League of New York, David D’Angers “Making the Modern Monument” The Frick Collection. Review for Linea, 2013
Linea, Tilman Riemenschneider, Metropolitan Museum. Review for Linea, April 2000
Linea, Technical Corner, “Patination” 1998 “In the company of Artist”, Sidney Simon 1997
Notable Lectures
Rodin Bronzes Rudin Collection, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY, 2010
Dr. Jack R. Anderson Lectureship, Visual Perception for Plastic Surgeons
American Academy of Facial, Plastic, and a Reconstructive Surgeons, Orlando, FL, 2014
Sculpture Demonstrations for American Academy of Facial, Plastic, and a Reconstructive Surgeons, 2012-2014
Selected List of Clientele
Art Students League, New York, NY
Burson Marstellar Inc., New York, NY
GTG Group East, USA Today. New York, NY
Irving Trust Bank, New York, NY
Marlo Thomas/ Phil Donahue, Westport, CT
Margaret Mead Foundation, New York, NY
Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, CA
Puffin Foundation, Teaneck, NJ
Proctor & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
Rockefeller Center, New York, NY
Sunnyside National Historic Park, Irvington, NY
Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NJ
Yale University, New Haven, CT