Susan Oliver is a Birmingham-born artist whose creative journey spans continents and mediums. A lifelong traveler with a deep appreciation for culture and color, Oliver has studied at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, and Florida State University’s program in Florence, Italy. Her passion for art and culture has taken her across Europe, with extended residences in France, Italy, and Austria—including time living in Paris and tutoring the children of the French Consul General in Rome.

While living in Vienna, Oliver immersed herself in painting, seeking guidance from instructors of the Hundertwasser class at the Vienna Academy of Painting. Her artistic voice—bold, expressive, and full of movement—was heavily shaped by German Expressionism and painters like Kandinsky, Kokoschka, Schiele, and Matisse.

Susan Oliver’s work has been widely exhibited, both in the United States and abroad. In Vienna, she presented at The Gallery Synthese and with The Bawag Foundation for the Arts during the Festival of the Arts, with exhibitions opened by Dr. Walter Koschatzky, then director of the Albertina Museum. Her paintings are held in corporate and private collections across the U.S. and Europe, with notable commissions from John Portman and The Portman Hotel in San Francisco, BellSouth, Sumitomo Corporation of America, and Bawag Bank in Vienna.

Gango Editions of Portland, Oregon, published prints of her artwork, and she was selected to design wine labels for Austria’s renowned Kracher Wines. Her designs also graced the official City Stages posters in 1995, 1997, and 2001, reflecting her deep ties to Birmingham’s creative community.

In addition to painting, Oliver has explored other artistic expressions—including writing and illustrating the children’s book Gelbo’s World: Remembering Colors, a playful celebration of creativity and imagination. More recently, she began designing jewelry as wearable art, featuring semi-precious stones and sterling wire wrap. In 2015, her jewelry was selected for the prestigious Kessler Collection at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook, Alabama.

To Oliver, art is not confined to canvas—it’s a full expression of the spirit. Whether through brushstroke, book, or bold jewelry design, her work invites others to explore their own creative voice.

“I have always loved fashion. To me it is as much a statement about the art of one’s spirit as it is about physical adornment. Be Bold – Be Beautiful – From my spirit to yours…”
– Susan Oliver

Discover more about Susan Oliver

ArtByOliver.com

Related Studio Notes Art Blog

This artist’s work connects to a Studio Notes art blog that explores related ideas, materials, and ways of working—offering guidance for artists who want to dig deeper into their process and creative thinking.

→ Read the related Studio Notes: Working in Abundance: Gesture, Density, and the Living Surface

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