Susan Contreras' paintings are thrilling. Her palette is Latin-brilliant, paint is applied with ecstatic authority, and the subject matter is the primal, celebratory power of masks. These paintings seduce with the power of the unknown and the possibility of magical transformation. We cannot know what is behind the masks or what they will release in us. But we can trust, as the artist does, that joy lies in the courage to imagine so exuberantly. With Contreras, we embrace the unpredictable.

Susan Contreras Resume

Born: Mexico City, 1952.

Education: Santa Fe Institute (studied with Nathan Oliveira and Wayne Thiebaud), University of California at Santa Barbara (MFA), Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME.

Married to artist Elias Rivera, lives in Santa Fe.

One Person Exhibitions:

2009: Parks Gallery, Taos New Mexico "A Harvest of Festivals"

2007: Grand Bohemian Gallery, Savannah, GA, "Bhutan"

2006: Parks Gallery, Taos, NM, “As You Like It”

2005: Parks Gallery, Taos, NM, “Recuerdos de Mexico”

2004: Parks Gallery, Taos, NM, ‘Garden of Delights’

2001: Vanier Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, Susan Contreras, New Paintings

2000: Parks Gallery, Taos, NM, 'Over the Top, new paintings'

2000: Hahn Ross, Santa Fe, New Paintings and Monotypes.

1998: The Parks Gallery, Taos, 'Heads and Tails'

1997: Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, OH, 'Beneath the Mask'

1995: Hahn Ross Gallery, Santa Fe, 'Special Appearances.'

1994: Swanson Cralle Gallery, Louisville, KY, 'Unexpected.'

1991: Rettig y Martinez Gallery, Santa Fe, 'Animal Tales.'

1989: Rettig y Martinez Gallery, 'Americana.'

1981: Gallery of Modern Art, Santa Barbara, CA.

1978: University Art Museum, UC Santa Barbara, M.F.A. Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2003: Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City, The Other Side of the Street.

2003: Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, Originals Traces of the Journey, National Museum of Women in the Arts Invitation,

2003: Parks Gallery, Taos, SmallWorks,

2002: National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, Ahora: New Mexican Hispanic Arts.

2001: Hahn Ross, Santa Fe, Mice, Masks, Margaritas and More.

2001: Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, Eggs . . . New Beginnings.

1995: Karen Ruhlen Gallery, Santa Fe, '101 Cups.'

1995: Nedra Matteucci's Fenn Galleries, Santa Fe, 'Absolut Enchantment.'

1995: David Rettig Gallery, Santa Fe, 'Departures and Disclosures.'

1995: Hahn Ross Gallery, Santa Fe, 'The Garden.'

1995: Raven Fine Art, Cody, WY, 'Why We Paint.'

1994: Mayor's Gallery, Guadalajara, Mexico, 'Artistas Contemporaneo De Nuevo Mexico.'

1994: Owings-Dewey Fine Arts, Santa Fe, 'Shrines.'

1994: David Rettig Gallery, 'Self Portrait.'

1994: Museo Casa de Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 'Reflexion Contemporanea.'

1994: Edith Lambert Gallery, Santa Fe, 'Pet Show.'

1993: Wichita Kansas Center for the Arts, 'Images - The Southwest.'

1993: Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA, 'Icons, Idols, and Totems.'

1993: Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, 'New Mexico Ô93.'

1992: Originals, Delmar, CA, 'The Subject is Women.'

1992: Gallery at the Rep, Santa Fe, and Castillo Cultural Center, New York, 'Quincentennial Perspective: Artists Discover Columbus.'

1992: Canyon Contemporary Arts, Columbus, Ohio, 'Two Artists: Susan Contreras and Elias Rivera.'

1991: Dewey Gallery, Santa Fe, 'Affordable Housing.'

1990: Kimo Theatre, Albuquerque, 'Masks and Reality.'

1990: Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, 'Southwest Contemporary Art.'

1989: Partner's Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 'The Hispanic Invitational.'

1989: MARS, Phoenix Az, 'Hecho in U.S.A.'

1988: Coors National Hispanic Art Exhibit and Tour, 'Expresiones Hispanas,' traveled to Mexican Cultural Institute, San Antonio, TX; Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, CA; Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, Fl, etc.

Public Collections:

Absolut Collection, New York City

Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville, KY

Goddard Center, Ardmore, OK

Museum of Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM

State Hospital, Las Vegas, NM

Labor Department, Santa Fe

New Mexico School for the Deaf, Santa Fe

The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM

Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe.

Awards:

15th Annual Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta, poster artist 2005

New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, commission, 2005

'Absolut Enchantment,' painting competition, Third Prize, Santa Fe, 1995

Clinton King -- Memorial Purchase Prize, Museum of Fine Art, Santa Fe, 1993

1% for the Arts, Direct Purchase, Labor Department, Santa Fe, 1992

Art Show at the Dog Show, 2nd place photography, Wichita, KS, 1991

1% for the Arts, Commission, Santa Fe Community College, 1990

1% for the Arts, Direct Purchase, Las Vegas, NM, 1986

Downs at Santa Fe Poster, Santa Fe, 1986

Selected Publications

DVD: “Garden of Delights,” Matt Schultz

Video: “The Exhilarating Art of Susan Contreras,” David Arthur

Santa Fean, 2000, 1998

New Mexico Magazine, 2002

Southwest Art, 1998, 1995

The Magazine, 1995

Taos News, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1998

Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, 1994

The New Mexican, 1998, 1995, 1991, 1990, etc.

The Albuquerque Journal, 2005, 2002, 1990, 1988, etc.

Sunset Magazine, 1991

New Art Examiner, 1989

Southwest Profile, 1989

Susan Contreras: Festival Spirit

For two decades Susan Contreras's paintings have lit up the art scene with the exotic color and mystery of masks. Her latest series, "A Harvest of Festivals," is inspired by folk celebrations from around the world and is featured in a one-person exhibition that is currently showing at the Parks Gallery throughout October.

"Contreras's work is always filled with excitement," says gallery owner Stephen Parks, "but there's something abouth this current work--the scintillating energy that's created by her combining masks with the high spirits of festivals--that can't help but brighten life in these rather difficult times."

"I think that's what fesitvals are for," Contreras adds. "You find them all over the world, some are religious, some are purely secular, but they're all about bringing people together, celebrating another level of reality beyond day-to-day, and having fun, sometimes very silly fun. And that's always been the attraction of masks for me. Put one on and you're transported."

Among Contreras's subjects are a Tudor falconry festival in Cheshire, England, a frog festival in Rayne, Louisiana, a Bavarian toy festival, and the annual Roswell UFO festival. "People in these communities spend months planning these festivals," Contreras says. They happen at the same time every year, no matter what else is happening in the world. And they're beautiful."