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Kiernan Hall Nature Art Gallery

"Dream of Nature" by Susana Zavala de Prieto

Artwork on exhibit from July 1 - July 31, 2011

Artist Reception: Saturday, July 9 from 2:00-4:00pm. The reception is open to adults and their children. RSVPs welcome to Susan Prieto

Artist’s Vision
As every persons life differs so does a true artist, even of the same studies experience and culture. Two artists that paint using surrealism, realism or abstract will differ vastly. Susana’s vision is beyond even that distinction.

Susana’s paintings are inspired by sounds, colors, textures and feelings reflective of her home town in Mexico City. Cultivating her skills through her new experiences and different ways to express her feelings, her art work carries a feeling on Mexico in it. Susana art is typically composed of simple shapes and form, heavy textures, bright colors and warm earth tones.

Her paintings characterize the work of many famous Mexican Artists, such as the simple portraits of Tamayo, the abstract qualities of Navarro, the bright colors of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera. Enriched with such culture, the depth of her art reflects her own unique approach by portraying in her most intense emotions and experiences of her life.

About Susana Zavala de Prieto
Presently, Susana resides in Rye Brook, NY, developing creative paintings that are distinctive of her artistic depth. Her home is now her studio where she regularly teaches students of all ages, not only painting techniques and design, but rather that a canvas is one of life’s privileges that allows personal experiences to be expressed individually for everyone to enjoy.

Susana was born in Mexico City in 1973. Enriched with the historic culture of Mexico and an innate passion for art, Susana’s talents developed as a child. Her talents evolved from numerous experiments in painting and drawing at the young age of eight. The passion to paint and draw stemmed from the mere plastic art class while in elementary school. Inspired by architecture and design, Susana attended Anahuac University to develop such skills. Thirsty with artistic desire and passion, Susana studied the human figure at San Carlos Academy.

Continuing the pursuit of artistic knowledge and skill, she went on the study wood carving and metal at the Culture House of Mexico. Recognizing the challenges of being an artist and the practicalities of life, she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Gastronomy from Pan American University (ESDAI) in hopes of a more stable profession.

Susana soon recognized the practicalities of her business degree were not aligned with her tormented soul that yearned to express all that she had experienced and learned over the years. Following her heart, armed with a lifetime of experiences and culture and learned skills from various institutions, both formal and informal, Susana flourished creating art reflective and expressive in form and design. As her evolution of painting gained greater recognition, Susana’s desire to obtain and incorporate new and different techniques, brought her study the use of acrylics and mix media. Those studies led her Manuel Trevino, a respected designer and esteemed graduate of Harvard University, who taught her transparencies.

Confident that her skills, experience and knowledge were illustrative of her passion, Susana has her first arte exhibit at the Dallas City Hall, along with the chamber of Commerce in Mexico. This enabled her to create numerous paintings varying in size, dimension, and complexities. In 2003, she participated in the corporate art exhibit of Frito Lay North America, where one of her many exhibited paintings won 2nd place. Recognizing societies interest and perseverance for art and culture, Susana began her path of art education. Between 2004 and 2007 Susana began teaching art lessons to adults and children, this led her to organize and participate in a collective art show with her students in Plano Texas and Monterrey, Mexico. Both shows earned commended recognition.

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