Susi LaForsch was born in New York and raised in Miami, spending much of her time in Gainesville Florida and the Florida Keys. LaForsch has always been an artist, but was too busy living other lives to take her art seriously until 1995. While attending the University of Florida ‘s College of Fine Arts she found her voice in her Girl in a Glass series. This was when she realized her “colorful” past was not something to be ashamed of, rather, surviving and growing in spite of it was something to celebrate.
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a concentration in painting, LaForsch has completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA* volunteer. She is currently working in the studio, creating work she believes in, and showing when the opportunity arises.
Group Exhibitions
- 2008, Taste of Inverness, City of Inverness Government Center, Inverness, Florida
- 2007, Addressing Iraq, Reitz Union Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- 2004, Scrutiny, Focus Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- 2004, Urgency Emerging Emergency, Serious Studios Emerging Artist Gallery, Miami Design District, Miami, Florida.
- 2003, Summer Sizzle, Brick City Center for the Arts, Ocala , Florida
- 2001, When Art Has Politics, Focus Gallery, University of Florida ,Gainesville, Florida
- 2001, Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes, Brick City Center for the Arts, Ocala, Florida
- 2000, Exploring the Series, Focus Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- 1998, Group Show, Art League Gallery, Citrus County Cultural Center, Hernando, Florida
- 1997, Student Show, The Webber Center, Central Florida Community College , Ocala , Florida
Solo Shows
- 2008, Pivotal Moments, Central Florida Community College, Lecanto, Florida
- 2006, Flashback, Galeria, San Sebastian Inverness, Florida
- 2004, The Art of Susi LaForsch, Casey’s Pub, Inverness, Florida.
- 2002, Selected Works, Central Florida Community College, Lecanto, Florida.
- 2001, Kickin’ & Screamin’, Krieger’s, Gainesville, Florida .
LaForsch’s paintings are in collections across the U.S. and in Europe.
I feel that art is a powerful tool and one of its uses throughout history has been to call attention to injustices in the world. Art should make us think about things like the pain people inflict on themselves or on others, as well as the grace and beauty of nature and how to preserve it. Art at its best should stir us to feel emotions such as outrage, empathy, connection, calmness and even awe.
On a more personal level, I see my art as a way to deal with life, to look at it, to try to understand it, to learn from it, and then hopefully to move on. Through witnessing my journey, I hope my audience can relate to something in my work that gives them a feeling of connection.
2008, Pivotal Moments, Central Florida Community College, Lecanto, Florida
2006, Flashback, Galeria, San Sebastian Inverness, Florida
2004, The Art of Susi LaForsch, Casey’s Pub, Inverness, Florida.
2002, Selected Works, Central Florida Community College, Lecanto, Florida.
2001, Kickin’ & Screamin’, Krieger’s, Gainesville, Florida .
LaForsch’s paintings are in collections across the U.S. and in Europe.