Eyes On: Susan Wick

Exhibition Guide

Denver-based artist Susan Wick (born 1938 in Madison, Wisconsin) creates art without inhibition. Her daring compositions and experiments with materials inspire and excite the imagination. The gallery’s colorful walls and the irregular placement of artwork chosen by the artist evoke her whimsical home and studio, known as ZWick Place.

Wick created works like those seen here around 1996 for a monthly art subscription, which she mailed to subscribers across the country. By sending her art out into the world, these dreamy and playful paintings exemplify Wick’s desire to foster community and connection.

Wick has also created dozens of artist’s books since the 1970s. Some contain daily paintings. Others are thematic, like one that illuminates the best sources of chocolate. Often stored in suitcases for ease of transport, these artworks contain a visual lexicon of birds, flowers, domestic interiors, and human figures that find their way into the other works on view. Together, they encourage us to see the artfulness of everyday life in the objects we behold.

Eyes On introduces audiences to a broad range of practices, ideas, and approaches to exhibition making explored by living artists working at pivotal moments in their careers. Projects in the series are organized as single-gallery exhibitions or site-specific installations.

Unless otherwise noted, all artwork by © Susan Wick and courtesy of the artist and David B. Smith Gallery.

Photograph of a gallery with a bright yellow wall that reads “eyes on” horizontally across the top and “Susan Wick” vertically along the right side. In the middle of the wall is a large, abstracted painting of a window with a red frame called “The Garden of Eden.” Shapes within the frame suggest flowers and plants blooming within. Other artworks appear in the distance.

Susan Wick Gallery Overview

This guide begins with a collection of photos of the Susan Wick exhibition gallery walls providing an overview of the exhibition layout. Below the gallery overview are photographs of a selection of works and their accompanying artwork labels.

Photograph of a gallery with a bright yellow wall. On the left side is the introductory text in English and Spanish. In the center, is a hand-written note in Spanish painted directly on the wall in black paint. On the right side is a whimsical grouping of 9 small drawings in white frames hung at different heights.
Photograph of an orange gallery wall. Small drawings are scattered across in a random arrangement with the drawings hung at different heights. The wall also includes a display case that features a closed book; the cover has been hand painted by the artist and reads “Rocky Mountain Spring Time.” The large, colorful painting “Bird in a Glass” also hangs among the small drawings.
Photograph of a gallery that features a salmon pink wall with a sliver of a lime green wall on the right. On the left side sits a stack of vintage suitcases. Behind it the artist hand painted a message in English directly on the wall. In the center of the pink wall is an arrangement of 7 small drawings hung at different heights. On the right side of the pink wall is a large, abstracted painting called “Dreaming.” On the green wall hangs two small drawings side by side.
Photograph of the gallery with two walls that meet in a corner. The wall on the left is salmon pink and features a large horizontal painting called “Dreaming.” The wall on the right is lime green and includes 8 small drawings hung at different heights around a display case holding an open book. On the far-right end of the green wall we see a holder with brochures featuring an interview with Susan Wick.
A person with short, dark hair wearing a yellow suit with a large black and white flower at the center of their collar. They hold a barbell-shaped stem with a flower on the left and a bud on the right. Set against a yellow background.

Hubba Hubba
About 1996
Acrylic paint, graphite pencil, and cut-and-pasted printed paper on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

Set against a lilac-purple background, the top three-quarters of the composition shows a brown trunk with roots and branches with red flowers and brown leaves at the ends. The bottom quarter has a human figure, face down, in a bathing suit, cap, and goggles, swimming toward the left against a yellow-green background.

#548
About 1996
Acrylic paint and ink on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

The pale bloom of a calla lily set against a lilac-purple background with textured yellow paper at the bottom of the composition.

Popular!
1996
Acrylic paint, graphite pencil, and handmade paper on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

A bright orange background featuring a collage of a sculpture at the top, with a child and a fish-like creature. Black lines painted over in bright yellow connect it to a large, textured silver rectangle in the center. At the bottom, a whimsical, hand-drawn fish with a long tail.

#468
1996
Acrylic paint, ink, silver leaf, and printed paper on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

A light pink teapot with the spout facing left and a silver leaf square in the center. It sits on a cake-shaped form atop a black stand. This floats above an orange oval at the bottom. All set against a mauve-pink background.

Silver Tea
About 1996
Acrylic paint, pastel, and silver leaf on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

Set against a mustard yellow background, a bulb-like plant with long, curved, red-tipped leaves sprouting upward. The plant rests above a lightly sketched square with roots dangling below. A single cloud floats near the top, while a row of dark mountains lines the bottom.

On Top of Things
1996
Acrylic paint, ink, and colored pencil on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

A surreal painting features a figure with a curvy outline and yellow bird head emerging from blue water. Two flamingos with pink feathers and black-tipped wings form the figure’s arms, their beaks touching in front of the figure’s head. The background is pink with abstract water ripples. In the lower part, two blue, bird-like creatures with expressive faces pop out of the water, creating ripples.

Cha! Cha! Cha!
About 1996
Acrylic paint and pastel on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

An abstract cityscape painting features a cluster of geometric buildings in red, black, and gray against a deep blue sky. The background consists of layered pastel hues with expressive brushstrokes, creating a textured effect. The title "Sunrise" and the date "Jan 9, 1996" are inscribed near the bottom.

Sunrise Monday, January 8, 1996
1996
Acrylic paint on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

A light-pink cactus flower and an orange-yellow cactus pad in a brown vase, set against a red, polka-dotted background. A mountain range is visible in the distance under a pale sky.

Cactus?
About 1996
Acrylic paint and ink on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

A stylized human figure with elongated legs and exposed anatomical elements, set against a bright yellow background. The figure wears a white garment, with long legs showing through and abstract shapes representing internal organs. Red tassels hang symmetrically on either side. The figure gazes upward to the left with a contemplative expression.

Yes, Forever
About 1996
Acrylic paint on paper
Photo by Bruce Fernandez, courtesy Denver Art Museum

The bottom half of the composition has a light pink background with black outlines of stems with small, thin leaves. The top half is green with an outline of a figure. It’s arms turn into the heads of light green bird-like creatures.

Paired Up
About 1996
Acrylic paint, ink, and pastel on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

Set against a fern-green background, two black-outlined birds perch above large, wavy leaves. Beneath the leaves, roots extend outward, and a single orange flower blooms on the right.

Go Green
About 1996
Acrylic paint and ink on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

A large, brown, abstracted figure with extended limbs standing on a skateboard. A delicate umbrella outlined in black is connected by a curving line under the limb on the right. The background is a gradient of soft peach and beige tones.

Freedom
About 1996
Acrylic paint, ink, and cut-and-pasted printed paper on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

Composition featuring a golden architectural structure with multiple layers. At the top, a dark arch frames a red bed and distant skyline. Below, a train moves horizontally across the middle, while a blue boat floats nearby. The central focus is a large cube-shaped structure with leaves underneath.

Dreams
About 1996
Acrylic paint and ink on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

A mixed-media composition featuring two colorful birds hovering around a central abstract plant-like form growing from a striped pot. A crinkled silver rectangular patch dominates the center, hanging by a delicate chain or vine. The scene is set against a bold yellow backdrop with lavender and orange accents.

Silver!
About 1996
Acrylic paint, ink, colored pencil, and silver leaf on paper
Photo by Christina Jackson, courtesy of Denver Art Museum

Abstract composition with bold, flowing shapes and vibrant colors. Deep blue dominates the lower half, while pink, cream, and yellow organic forms intertwine in the center. Tall, dark green and white vertical elements rise on the right, set against a vivid red background.

Dreaming
2002
Acrylic paint on canvas
Photo by Wes Magyar

A white bird in profile with a blue eye appears central, interacting with translucent shapes and a large hand. At the bottom, a black-and-white floral arrangement sits atop a rectangular surface. The background is a mix of sky blue, peach, green, and magenta.

Bird in a Glass
2000
Acrylic paint on canvas
Collection of Francie Bishop Good and David Horvitz
Photo by Wes Magyar

A stack of several old suitcases in various colors and textures.

A selection of vintage suitcases

A vintage book with a textured, faded orange cover and a worn brown spine. The front has no visible title or text. A book with a gray cover featuring a colorful, whimsical illustration of a globe-like shape with leaves, clouds, and abstract patterns. The label on the front reads “Papier” and “Bonn, Germany.” Book with a light-colored cover featuring the hand-lettered title “Chocolat Book” in brown and red ink. A small, handmade book with a purple cloth cover and a yellow tassel. A handwritten label on th

A selection of artist’s books created between 1974 and 1998

A handpainted note in black on the gallery wall. The message thanks the Denver Art Museum, curator Rory Padeken, assistant Hadia Shaikh, and the curatorial team. It reads: “It is an honor + HONOR. Hope you enjoy it!” and is signed “Susan Wick.” The message is tightly outlined, and two arm-like forms wrap around the bottom of the text.

I want to thank the Denver Art Museum, my curator Rory Padeken and his assistant Hadia Shaikh and the curatorial team!! And say it is an honor HONOR. Hope you enjoy it!

Susan Wick