From the vibrant streets of New York City to the dynamic energy of Baltimore, my journey as an artist has been as diverse as my paintings. I am Susan Washington, a contemporary abstract artist with a passion for creating art that resonates with the soul of urban life, strength, inspiration, and female empowerment.

Growing up in New York during the 80s, a time when the city had a beautiful raw creativity, I found my calling. Brooklyn was home, but the streets of St. Marks Place and the Village were my playgrounds. My early days were spent sketching club clothes designs, inspired by the city's fashion and art scene. These sketches, born in thrift stores and brought to life through my sewing machine, were just the beginning of my artistic journey.

After a 20-year career at Christian Dior Menswear, blending the worlds of fashion and art, I reached a turning point. I decided to pursue my lifelong passion and I made the decision to shift my focus entirely to art. This step marked a significant yet natural transition in my career, allowing me to dedicate myself to creating abstract art and sharing my vision through my paintings.

In 2021, I embarked on a new chapter in Baltimore, Maryland. The city's rawness stirred memories of my New York roots, fueling my largest series, "Subway Sonnets." This collection delves into my New York recollections, capturing the essence of urban life with imagery reminiscent of billboards, graffiti-laden train cars, and more. It's here that I also began to occasionally weave narratives of inspiration, strong and empowered women into some of my artwork.

As you navigate through my online portfolio, you'll find that each piece tells a story; it could be a small fragment of my life transferred to the surface and texture of a work inspired by the old graffitied subway stations I remember, powerful song lyrics or perhaps you see your own story in there. Because in the end, we really are more similar than different.

My abstract paintings are available for sale directly through this site and on Cohart. In Los Angeles I am represented by Artspace Warehouse. If you wish for a more personal experience, feel free to email me for a Facetime or Zoom session, where you can view my works in real-time right from my studio.

Abstract art for sale direct from the artist’s studio. Artwork may also be purchased on ARTSY Artspace Warehouse or on Saatchi Art.