Susan Grucci

Biography

Susan Grucci grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., near Jamaica Bay, still a beautiful wildlife refuge at the southeastern edge of New York City. From early childhood, she benefited from living close to the natural world and to the hubbub of the largest, most cosmopolitan city in the country. She was also blessed with loving parents. Her father was a baker and an exuberant Gardener. Her mother, assisted by a large group of Italian-American aunts, taught her all about the arts as well as the household arts of sewing, embroidery, and crocheting. From a very young age, Susan took many family photographs and has been taking pictures practically every day since. She is pouring all these beloved remembrances into a memoir, “The House on 96th Street.”

Ms. Grucci had a long career as a consultant at The 92nd Y that lasted more than 25 years. For that entire period, the Weill Art Gallery at 92Y has featured her artwork. The oil painting has always been Ms. Grucci’s primary interest, although she also excels at mono-printing and multi-media art. She has studied extensively at 92Y, including many courses in ceramics and sculpture, oil painting, drawing, and Art History. The opportunity to spend two consecutive summers in a residency in Pinzolo, Italy, was a dream come true.

Susan has always felt fortunate to live in New York City and for some of the years in her cottage studio in the Catskill Mountains. She continues to show her work (and sometimes curate it) through the Carter Burden Network. She exhibits both virtually and in galleries upstate and in New York City.

Art lovers can investigate Susan’s work in detail at artworkarchive.com/artwork/susan-grucci and nyartistscircle.com

Artist statement

For many years, I concentrated on traditional landscapes in a large format. I used my own photographs and sketches as the basis for my work. Photography has been one of my many passions throughout the years.

My Art has continued to grow after a 2025 trip to Japan where I learned about Sumi ink and incredible papers and now I can bounce back from painting to Pen and Ink using large to small  4'x3' canvases as well as paper and all different sized inbetween. I'm more free and open to many different expressions and with that I can explore and play with it all. This incredible trip added so much to a very freeing state of mind. 

I'm finding that at point in the process, I search for figurative suggestions and movement within the paint or Ink. Finally, in delicately rendered marks, I address the details of the of the Painting or Print,  unfailingly, music helps and guides me as I work.The process requires time. I find that I am spending many weeks on a relatively small 8 “x 10”, in between painting larger paintings at the same time. Yet for me, the rewards are incalculably rich. Exhilarating freedom, confidence-inspiring command.

Also, the process with Mono-Type Printing is similar, in which I can spend much time adding to my original print. Collage has become a go-to medium for me. For the last 10 years, I started to use my own work to add to the backdrop of my prints as well as enhancing the them with Oil sticks, Gouache, Enamel, Graphite, Pen and Ink, Tea, Pan Pastels.

I have also enjoyed being a Potter for over 20 years. at 92Y.  Lexington Ave. NYC

For close to three  decades, I have Exhibited different forms of my creativity at The Weil Art Gallery at 92Y.

Best,

Susan

2026-NY Prespertian Gallery - Hearing Music

2025-Small Works Show- Carter Burden Gallery

2022-2025- Carter Burden Gallery and Carter BurdenNetwork -  I have shown at various Galleries throughout the New York area. 

2021- Newyorkartistscircle -"Lost and Found"  Virtual show through the Summer - Four Part Zoom presentations.

2021- Gallery Sitka/ Artsy are featuring my work in two shows - "Earth Day"  until June and Martha's Vineyard/beach Exhibitions until late Summer

2020 - Carter Burden Gallery/Artsy - Virtual Exhibition - " Consolations "

2021 - It is an exciting time for me, I started exhibiting my work at Carter Burden Gallery/Artsy " One Year Later:.

2020/10/29 - 2020/11/22 - Harlem Art Walk El Barrio presents SPARK- In Gallery

2020- The Catskill Art Society in Livingston Manor (The Catskill's) New York. Virtual Exhibition. 

 2001-2019 It has been my greatest pleasure to have has been instructed by Painter, my friend and mentor Brian Rutenberg ( Forum Gallery) at 92Y School of the Arts. He taught me “ An eye not told what to see, sees more”.

Early years: New School, NYC- Pottery - Donald Mavro