Sue Irion

www.sueirion.com | @sue.irion | Artist’s CV

Technik Photoemulsion on Canvas, 50cmx60cm

Technik Photoemulsion on Canvas, 180cmx200cm

"Back in 5," Technik Photoemulsion on Canvas, 150cmx190cm

Homage at Merette Openheim, Uni Basel, 140cmx540cm

Portrait by Matthias Willi

Sue Irion is a mixed media artist based in Basel, Switzerland and Miami, U.S.A. She graduated from the KunstakadamieBasel majoring in painting and sculpture in 1984. After graduating she began combining photography based on photoemulsion techniques with painting. Since 1984 she has exhibited throughout Switzerland, the EU and the USA. Her works can be found in public and private collections in Switzerland, the EU and the USA including Roche, Helvetia Swiss, Novartis, Kunstkredit Basel, Kunstkredit Basel-Land, Edwin Europe, Tilla Arts Miami and Fidelity Group Boston. Her works have been published in catalogues from Kunsthalle Thun, Kunsthalle Palazzo, Galerie Rigassi, Kunsthaus Langenthal, Las Vegas Art Museum and Edge Zones Miami. Sue Irion has curated several shows in the last 20 Years, she is the founder of the Ping Pong Art Project which takes place during Art Basel Switzerland and Art Basel Miami. Ping Pong includes artists from Basel, Berlin, Miami, Los Angeles and Guests from various cities. She is also active as a jury member in art competitions in Switzerland such as Kunstkredit Basel-Land, Kunst am Bau Liestal, Regionale Basel and Sculpture Exhibition Binningen.

The Forest

In the visual arts the forest has been a widely used motif and source of inspiration.
Currently, the forest is also a major subject of environmental and political concerns.
The forest has numerous sides : mystical, dreamlike, relaxing. The colors appear to be infinite and artists such as Henri Rousseau and Max Ernst have explored their variations.

Roadsides

Everywhere on the streets of urban America are the makings and trimmings of illusions. They are present in the form of ‘Fantasy Islands,’ buildings, written statement advertisements and cars. They are part of the American soul, a search or a yearning for another place. Often bordering on the underside of society they sometimes cross the line into what many consider ‘bad taste.’ These fantasy areas are constantly changing and adapting to new influences and whims of society.

In my series based on roadside images, I intend to document some aspects of these illusions and then remake some of the scenes to create yet another illusion. Some of the more drabby scenes reveal unexpected qualities when redone as a new illusion. Change has always been a major part of American roadside culture. They very nature of our cities demands movement and fantasy.

~ Sue Irion