Statement
My work investigates the tension between fragility and stability, control and chaos, through stitched structures that bridge the arenas of painting, textiles, and sculpture. The works are composed separate elements made of wood or cardboard and are joined together with heavy threads. I use stitching not only as a method of construction but as a conceptual framework: a way to explore how things are held together and the tenuous reliability of the structures we rely on. Whether social, political, or cultural, the systems that shape our lives are rarely as solid as they seem. The stitching is a powerful symbol of both repair and vulnerability. It is a metaphor for how we try to hold things together, the interdependence of individual elements, and the constant strain of maintaining a cohesive union. They are held together by provisional means — by people, agreements, routines, and norms — each a kind of stitch in the fabric of our collective existence.
I consider each piece a quiet record of time, labor, and intimacy. Through the rigorous hand-stitching of individual elements, I create compositions where each piece interacts with the others, gradually forming a complex whole. Embracing the meditative act of repetitive labor, the process not only reflects the precision and patience inherent in textile traditions, but also allows the tactile exploration of space, form, and structure. Like assembling pieces of a puzzle, each component is contingent on the previous stitched piece, with the final form gradually reveals itself through the process.
Biography
Susan Stover is a multidisciplinary artist whose work draws from a deep foundation in textile traditions and contemporary painting. Originally from the Midwest, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts in Oakland, California—both degrees emphasizing her dual passions for textiles and painting.
With a professional career that spans several decades, Susan has cultivated a unique voice that merges cultural textile practices with modern abstraction. She spent ten years working with Jacquard Products, a leading manufacturer of textile paints and dyes, where she gained technical expertise that continues to inform her practice. In addition to her studio work, Susan has served on the faculty at the University of California, Davis, and on the staff of California College of the Arts. She has taught extensively across the globe with workshops in Australia, India, Italy, France, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
After many years in Northern California’s wine country, Susan recently relocated to the Hudson Valley in New York. Her work is represented by Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, NY, and Cura Contemporary in Morgan Hill, CA.