Biographical Statement


The environment to which I was exposed as a child, adolescent and an adult is one filled with painting, art and the expression of creativity. Painting as a language is a tradition that I embrace. I am a fourth generation American artist.
The tradition of art is established. My personal focus has been to find my own voice within the tradition, which includes craftsmanship and attention to the integrity of materials used.

Barbara J. Sussman is the fourth generation of American artists in her family. Beginning with her great-grandfather, their brief biographies are as follows:

HENRY HOBART NICHOLS (1838-1886) Wood engraver who made a specialty of engraving illustrations of scientific works. Illustrated three volume edition, hand colored wood engravings, North American Birds” by Baird, Brewer, & Ridgeway (1874). Awarded First Class Medal at the Centennial Exhibit in Philadelphia, 1876.

HOBART NICHOLS, N.A. (1869-1962) Landscape painter. Paintings in many collections including Metropolitan Museum, NYC, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.; received numerous awards, including the Altman Prize at the National Academy of Design. Served as president of the Academy for ten years, Director of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation for thirty years, President of the Salamagundi Club and the American Water Color Society. Paintings reproduced in many publications and books.

SPENCER BAIRD NICHOLS, N.A. (1875-1950) Painter, muralist, and book illustrator. Paintings in many museums and collections, including the National Museum, Washington, D.C.; Metropolitan, N.Y.C.; and Montclair Museum, N.J. His portrait of Vice President Stephenson is in the Speaker’s Lobby, The Capitol. Awarded First Prize in 1908, Paris Exposition. Chief Designer for Tiffany Studios until the beginning of WWI. Illustrated Dickens’, Wilde’s, and Noye’s books. Worked in the Museum of Natural History on many dioramas. Received numerous prizes, including two Ranger Fund Purchase Awards, Altman Prize at National Academy. Many of his paintings were destroyed in a disastrous fire in his studio.

HELEN NICHOLS JACOBS (1924- ) Painter, instructor, recipient of over 75 honors and medals at juried national exhibitions. Member American Artist Professional League, Kent Art Association, Salamagundi Club. Instructor at the Ridgewood Art Institute 1968-93. Works have been included in numerous collections and exhibitions including Bergen Community Museum, Newark Museum, N.J.; National Arts Club, Lever House, Salamagundi Club, N.Y.C.

Art Consultant/ Curator

  • Blue Hill Art and Cultural Center, Blue Hill Plaza, Pearl River, New York, NY,
Current Exhibition, Influence & Inspiration, 2013-present.
  • McKinsey & Co., Inc. New York, NY, 1995-present.
  • Covington & Burling, New York, NY, 1985-2015.
HELP USA, Genesis Clinton Hill Project, Newark, NJ. Kramer & Marks, 2012.
  • Covington & Burling, New York, NY, 1985-2015.
  • OSilas Gallery at Concordia College The Nichols Brothers. Co-curated 2010.
  • ASA Landscape for Landscape, 10th Exhibition, Greenwich, NY, 2010.
  • Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Children’s Psychiatric, NYC, 2010.
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Urgent Care Center, New York, NY, 2003.
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, New York, NY, 2001.
  • Institute Medical Humanism, Southwestern Vermont Medical, Bennington, VT, 2002-05.
  • The Bond Market Association, New York, NY, 1992-2002.
  • Art Consultant Curator, Vanity Fair Magazine, Photographic Traveling Exhibition, Condé Nast, New York, NY, 1989-98.


Publications

Aesthetic Genetic, Art Families, Blue Hill Art & Cultural Center, La Palme Magazine, Spring, Los Angeles, CA, 2015.

Molecules of Love, Collections of Writings Lorrie Goulet, Forward by Barbara J. Sussman, Published by Free Scholar Press, 2015.

Skowhegan Oral History Project, Interview of Barbara J. Sussman, 2014.

Who’s Who of American Art, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who among Professional, Marquis Who’s Who, 27th Edition, 1999.


Panelist

Three Artists, Three Colleagues, Three Centurians, William F. Draper, Trafford Klots and Richard Seyffert Exhibition, The Century Club, New York, NY, Guest Panelist.

Selected Collections

Atlantic House Hotel, Scarborough, ME.
The Bond Market Assoc., New York, NY.
Baker & Daniel’s, Indianapolis, IN.
Hoglund & Pierce, Portland, ME.
People’s Heritage Bank, Portland, ME.
Jensen Baird, Gardner & Henry, Portland, ME.
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Mr. Micah Green, Patton Boggs, LLP, Washington, DC.
Private Collections: France; Germany; Scotland; Singapore. Switzerland.


Selected Solo Exhibitions

Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT, 2006.
Open Space Gallery, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2002.
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 2002.
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1999.
Kunstsalon Wolfsberg, Zurich, Switzerland, 1996.
Greenhut Gallery, Portland, ME, 1995.
Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, VT, 1993.
Hobe Sound Galleries North, Brunswick, ME, 1991.
Hobe Sound Galleries North Brunswick, ME, 1989.
Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1988.
Susan Blanchard Gallery, New York, NY, 1988.
St. Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish, NH, 1987.
Hobe Sound Galleries North, Portland ME, 1985.
Hobe Sound Galleries South, Hobe Sound, FL, 1984.

Selected Group Exhibitions

Book and Object Biennial, National Museum of Romanian Literature, Calea Grivitea. Bucharest, Romania, 2018.
Landcapes for Landsake, Agricultural Stewardship Assoc., Greenwich, NY, 2017.
Preine Hall Benefit Exhibition, SVA, New York, NY, 2012.
Annual North Bennington Art in the Park, North Bennington, VT, 2011-2012.
Variation of a Theme, Swain Galleries, Plainfield, NJ, 2006.
Newman Galleries, Philadelphia, PA, 2004-2005
Art Students League Invitational at Salander O’Reilly, New York, NY, 2004.
Rochefort en Terre Residency, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, 2004.
175th Juried Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, NY, 2004.
Language of Reflection, PSA Art Showcase, New York, 1998.
Small Works, Winter Olympics, Nagano, Japan, 1998.
PSA Art Showcase XI, New York, NY, 1997.
Solo Exhibition,Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1996.
Mohawk Regional Juried Exhibition, Schenectady Museum, Schenectady, NY.1996.
Lincoln Center, Cork Gallery, New York, NY, 1995.
Curator’s Choice, Police Building, New York, NY, 1994.
Brooke Alexander, New York, NY, 1992.
Provincetown Art Museum, Provincetown, MA, 1990.
Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY, 1992.
Musee de Rochefort en Terre, Brittany, France, 1990.
National Arts Club, New York, NY, 1989.
Kent Art Association, Kent, CT, 1988.
Midtown Gallery, New York, NY, 1987-92.
Ceres Gallery, New York, NY, 1984.
Skowhegan Artists, Colby Museum, Colby College, Waterville, ME, 1983.
PS Galleries, Tulsa, OK, 1982.
PS Galleries, Dallas, TX, 1982.
Bergen County Museum, Paramus, NJ, 1982.
Four Generations, An American Art Family, Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NJ, 1980.

Awards, Fellowships & Honors

Artist Residency, North College, Scotland, 1999.
New York State Foundation of the Arts. Artist in Residency, Cheney Library, Hoosick Falls, NY, 1996 and 1998.
National Founders Day Award, PTA, Hoosick Falls Central School, 1996.
Jay Hall Connoway Award, Landscape, Landscape Award, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT, 1990.
International Sculpture Concours, US Team, placing 3rd, 1982.
Fresco Mural Award, Skowhegan, ME, 1976.
Rhode Island School of Design, Honors in Painting, 1974.


Reviews

Art Our Connection to Spirit by C.J. King, Manchester Journal, Manchester, VT, 1999.
Unfailing Faith Fourth Generation Artist by Ken Greenleaf, 1995.
Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, ME. October 22, 1995.
Schenectady Gazeteer, Schenectady, NY, January 10, 1995.
Albany Times Union, Albany, NY, 1994.
Manchester Journal, Manchester,VT, July 22, 1993.
Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT, July 28, 1992.
Maine SundayTelegram, Portland, ME, June 25, 1989.
Press & Post, Hoosick, NY, August 30, 1988.
Leisure Weekly, NH, September 10, 1987.
Palm Beach Focus, Palm Beach, FL, 1986.
The Maine Times, Portland, ME, December 16, 1983.

Civic Services

2012-18 President, (CiviCure) Civic and Cultural Restoration Corp., Hoosick Falls, NY.
2000-present Board Member (CiviCure) Civic and Cultural Restoration Corp., Hoosick Falls, NY.
2008-10, 2016-18, President, Treasurer 2011-12. American Society of Appraisers, Hudson Valley Chapter, Reston, VA.
1998-2002 President, Board Member 1992-2002. Cheney Library, Hoosick Falls, NY,
1990-96 Co-President, Hoosick Falls Central School PTA, Hoosick Falls, NY.

Education

BS, Arts Administration, Skidmore College, University Without Walls, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2005.
George Washington University, Center for Professional Development, Washington, DC.
American Society of Appraisers Personal Property Valuation, Appraisal Studies in the Fine and Decorative Arts. 2002-03.
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, 1972-73.
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan ME, Summer 1976,Dean of Students: 1977, 1982, 1983.
The Art Students League of New York, NY, 1971, 1975-1978.


Professional Affiliations

Art Students League, Life Member, awarded 1978.
Artist Fellowship, Member, New York, NY, since 1989.