ARTIST STATEMENT

I hope my use of color and textures transcends emotional boundaries for the viewer. My goal is for the work to create a connection to the deeper self, conscious or not, and to inspire compassion, creating a call to action.

The soul of humanity lives in the hearts of children. Let’s dig deeper.

BIO

Susan Van Zaig was born in Montreal in 1964 and grew up in Toronto. A lifelong painter, she had her first solo exhibition in 1996 at Del Bello Gallery in Toronto.

After a 5-year journey around the world, Van Zaig moved to Santa Fe in 2001 where she joined the Stoneworks Gallery artist collective.

After leaving Santa Fe in 2003, Van Zaig began studying and teaching yoga in Vancouver, while continuing to paint. She built a successful practice as a teacher and yoga therapist before moving to Southern California in 2016. 

In 2021 she moved to the Coachella Valley, where she currently lives and works. Her work is inspired by the unending vistas and the magical hues of the desert, as well as her passion to support women and children refugees and bring attention to the issues that displace them.

In 2023, Van Zaig opened Van Zaig Gallery in Palm Desert as a way to leverage the power of contemporary art by female artists to bring resources and attention to women and children refugees.

When she’s not in her studio or managing the gallery, Van Zaig enjoys hiking with her husband and two dogs.