Susan Thornbury

Susan Thornbury creates richly layered mixed media paintings that feel both modern and timeless. Working on wood panels with plaster and wax, she builds surfaces that are as much about what’s revealed as what’s concealed. Her compositions often begin with structure—repeating motifs inspired by antique textiles, vintage wallpaper, or family heirlooms—then soften and evolve through an intuitive, hands-on process of scraping, sanding, and waxing. The result is work that feels quiet but deeply tactile, inviting viewers to linger and discover the nuance within every petal, line, and edge.

A background in graphic design shapes Susan’s sensibility: there’s a balance between pattern and spontaneity, symmetry and imperfection. Whether working in soft sage greens, misty grays, or whispery whites, she leans into the beauty of restraint, letting texture and subtle shifts in color carry the emotion.

Susan lives and works in Atlanta, where she shares a home with her husband, two daughters, and their spunky rat terrier, Bowie. Her studio is a space filled with light, quiet music, and the occasional paw print.