WELCOME TO SUSAN HENSEL ART – TEXTILE ART BY SUSAN HENSEL
Textile art by Susan Hensel. Susan is a multidisciplinary artist, with a 50+ year career. She combines a mixed media practice with embroidery across digital and manual platforms.
Discover intriguing textile art by Susan Hensel. “As an artist, I find the beauty and structure of embroidery thread is qualitatively unique. It traffics in optical color perception, providing a lenticular opportunity due to the tri-lobal structure of the thread and its ability to bend light.” To quote Jane McKeating, “Color drips off the needle every bit as richly as from a brush.”
Fiber and mixed media objects of overwhelming color that transcend the quotidien, creating experiences that step into pure sensation.
50+ YEARS IN ART
Craftsmanship
SUSAN IS PASSIONATE
Creativity
IT’S IN THE DETAILS
Quality
Curriculum Vitae
Susan Hensel is a contemporary artist whose career has included running a fine art gallery and whose artwork includes textile art, embroidery, sculptures, installation art, contemporary fiber art, digital embroidery, geometric art, and contemporary abstract art.
2021
Abstract Stitch, 621Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
2020
Eros and Thanatos, Seminole State College, Sanford, FL
2019
I Dwell in Impossibility, Phipps Gallery of Art, Hudson WI
2018
Eros and Thanatos; ArtSpace, Richmond, VA
Platonic Dualities, 2-person show, Gallery 5004, Robbinsdale, MN
2017
Eros and Thanatos, Wiseman Gallery, Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR
The Art of Digital Embroidery, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2016
In Stitches, ArtSpace, Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
In Stitches, Corcoran Neighborhood Office, Minneapolis, MN
Power and Transgression, Grain belt Bottling House, Minneapolis, MN
2015
The Ophelia Project, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Inventory Methods, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Transformation: The Works of Susan Hensel & Janna Rhae Johnson, Hopkins, MN
Reinvented Past; 2-person, Banfill Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley, MN
2014
The Ophelia Project, Riverland Community College, Austin, MN
Form: Inside and Out, 2 person show,Larson Gallery, University of Minnesota
2011
Color of Conflict, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2008
Just Looking, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2006
Desire, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2005
The piece Assembling Memory, Mott Community College, Flint, MI
Story Driven, Bright Hill Center, Treadwell, NY
2004
Dynamic Storytelling, Lansing, MI
2003
A Way with Words, Las Vegas Civic Center Gallery, Las Vegas, NV
A Way with Words, Appalachian Craft Center, TN
2002
Coming Home, Art Apartment, E.Lansing, MI
2001
Assembling Memory, Gallery 402, OIA, New York City, NY
The piece Assembling Memory, Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
Assembling Memory, St. Clair Comm. College, Port Huron, MI
Kristallnacht: the bystanders, The Art Apartment, E.Lansing, MI
2000
Surviving to Soar, Creole Gallery, Lansing, MI
What if…,The Art Apartment, E.Lansing, MI
A Way with Words, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH
A Way with Words, Gallery 1708, Richmond, VA
Two person show, Lincoln Center, Ft. Collins, CO
1999
University Of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CN
Todd Mack Designs, Lansing, MI
Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA
1998
Literary Sculpture, Rosewood Art Center, Kettering, OH
A Way with Words, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE
Off the Shelf, Alma College, Alma, MI
1996
Off the Shelf, David Thomas Gallery, Lansing, MI
A New Vocabulary, Agnes Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2020
The Self Portrait, University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC
Arts North International,*award*, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN
Small Works, Kent State University, Kent, OH
Gold Standard of Fiber & Textile Art; Westbeth Art Gallery, New York, NY
Common Thread, Textile Center of MN, Minneapolis, MN
Current Thread, online exhibition, Surface Design Association, surfacedesign.org
Seeing God,•award• Benedictine Center, St. Paul, MN
Mixed Media Show, Core New Art Space, Lakewood, CO
Abstraction, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
Up Close and Sculptural, Part3,Ridgedale Art Partners, Minnetonka, MN
Abstract National, Mark Arts Center, Wichita, KS
North x Northwest: Women’s Work, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT
Web Gallery 28, https://www.tsgny.org/
Art in Isolation, North Dakota Museum of Art, Billings, ND
2019
Windows to the Soul, Sower Gallery, Chaska, MN
The Red Show, Core New Artspace, Denver, CO
One Zero One, Art League of Rhode Island
Gateway to Imagination, Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM
Beyond the Surface, Surface Design Association, St. Louis Art Guild, Clayton, MO
Small Works, SDA Members Show, Webster University, St. Louis, MO
Small Works, Trestle Gallery, online, bit.ly/2MYnzYD,Brooklyn, NY
Soft Borders, Exhibition in Print, Surface Design Association Journal
Small Matters,Colorado Mesa University Art Gallery, Grand Junction, CO
Opposites, Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro, MA
Sculpture at the Kavanaugh, St. Charles, IL
(Untitled), •award• Athens Art Gallery, IN
Perceptions of Selfie , Mosesian Art Center, Watertown, MA
Hysteria, WARM member show, Minneapolis, MN
Common Thread, Textile Center of MN, Minneapolis, MN
What is Forbidden, St. Catherine University, St Paul, MN
Abstract 2019, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
2018
Weaver’s Guild of MN Instructor show, Paradise Center for the Arts, Fairbault, MN
Future Former, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
American Conversations, Art Works Eagan, Eagan, MN
Many Times Magnified; Grace Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
Fiber Options, Maryland Federation for the Arts,Annapolis, MD
Pushing Paper, Barrett Center for Art, Poughkeepsie, NY
No Big Heads, University of Alaska, Ankorage, AK
Black and White, Gallery 311, Raleigh, NC
Family Matters, Surface Design Association, in print
Small Works, Gallery 440, Brooklyn, NY
Small Matters, Colorado Mesa University’s Art Gallery
2017
Zoetic; Robbin Gallery, Robbindale, MN
Common Thread; Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Inauguration: Acts of Resistance, Acts of Kindness; Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Craft; Red Garage Studio, Minneapolis, MN
Needlework: Rethinking Vulnerability and Resistance,Prøve Collective, Duluth, MN
Tell Me a Story; Foundry Art Centre; St. Charles, MO
The DegeneraTe Show; Red Garage Studio; Minneapolis, MN
Crone Culture, Minneapolis, MN
Fiber Art VIII, Sebastapol Center for the Arts, Sebastapol, CA
Part of a Whole, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Real People, Courthouse Figurative League, Crystal Lake, IL
Really Affordable Art, Brooklyn Waterfront Arts Collective, Brooklyn, NY
Planned Parenthood Gallery, Colorado Springs, CO
No Big Heads, University of Alaska, Ankorage, AK
FASA 43rd Annual Show, San Antonio, TX
Anguish and Hope, Vine Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Divergent Offerings, Show Gallery, St. Paul, MN
2016
Au Naturel , Clatsop Community College, Astoria, OR
I Am, Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MN •featured artist•
Transgender Realities, Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR
WARM Guerrillas: Feminist Vision, Minneapolis, MN
Pastel National 2016, •catalog• Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS
12th annual Ceres National Juried Show, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY
National Juried Exhibition, First Street Gallery, New York, NY
Art of the Book, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
Fiber Options, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD
La Mese delle Donne, Rochester Community College, Rochester, MN
Exposed, New Bohemian Gallery, Brainerd, MN
Common Thread, Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Black and White, Wyoming Center for the Arts, Wyoming, MN
2015
Crotch: Contested Territory, Whitdel Arts, Detroit, MI
WARM Self Portraits at the Tractor Works, Gallery One, Minneapolis, MN
Repetitions and Patterns,Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA •award•
Sexism, a Touchy Subject; ARC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Inquire Within, St Catherine University, St. Paul, MN
Puzzles, Riddles and Enigmas; Slusser Gallery, University of Michigan
7th Pollux Award, http://www.galaawardsgallery.com/fine-art-pollux.html, finalist, London, UK
Reimagining Femmage,catalog,Women’s Caucus for Art, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
Extreme Fibers,Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI
Extreme Fibers, Dennos Museum of Art, Traverse City, MN
Voices: Women Unite,catalog, http://issuu.com/karengutfreund/docs/voices_catalog_for_issuu
Common Thread, Textile Center of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Portals and Passages, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
IU East Inaugural National Juried Exhibition: Gender, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN
Hudson Public Library, Hudson, WI
BWAC Wide Open 6, Brooklyn Waterfront Art Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
2014
Continuum: An exploration of Gender, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN,catalog
Untitled 10, Soo Visual Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Out of the Loop, West Haven Art League, West Haven, CN
WARM Small Works, Banfill-Locke Center for Art, Fridley, MN
Unintended Consequences, Work Gallery, University of Michigan catalog
Truth Telling: Jerome Textile Project Grant Exhibition, Concordia College, St. Paul, MN
Savage Juried Art Competition, Savage, MN
Meditations on Woman, Flow Artspace, St. Paul, MN
Selfie: here and now; Columbia City Gallery, Seattle, WA
No Big Heads, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK
Outside the Margins Book Arts, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Silver Spring, MD
2nd annual Juried Artists Book Exhibition, WoCA Projects, Ft. Worth, TX
2013
Savage Juried Art Competition, Savage, MN •award•
In.ter.face,Surface Design Association Members Show, SaySi Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Northern National Art Competition, catalog, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
Parts of a Whole, Minnesota Center for Book Art, Minneapolis, MN
Me, Myself and Eye, Flow Art Space, St. Paul, MN
2012
Pastel National, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS,
catalog
Expressions of the Feminine Psyche, Van Brabson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2011
Scene Metrospace, East Lansing, MI
The Original Show, Flow Art Space, Minneapolis, MN
Expressions of the Feminine Psyche,Van Brabson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2010
Foot in the Door, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Expressions of the Feminine Psyche, Van Brabson Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2007
Ties that Bind, Howard County Center for the Arts, Ellicott City, MD
Reunion Show, Kettering, Ohio
The Book, College of the Mainland, Texas City, TX; curated by Jon Coffelt & Janet Hassinger
Art Center Selects,Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN
Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO
Proteus Gowanus, Brooklyn, NY
2006
Reader’s Art 6, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Threads in Space, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Artist Made Books, St. John University, MN
Sculptural Bookworks, Edge Gallery, Denver, CO
2005
Reader’s Art 5, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Do Not Name your Food, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Book +Art=?,Denver, CO
Uncovered: Michigan Book Artists, South Haven, MI
2004
A Readers Art 4, Lansing, MI
All Things Electoral, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis
A Leap of Faith, Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis
“So, You’ve got something to say..,”Art inFusion, Minneapolis, MN
3rd North American Juried Book Competition,Bright Hill Center, Treadwell, NY
2003
Art Books, Thomasville Cultural Center, GA
Hope Borbas Library, Okemos, MI award
Ready for War, Illinois State University, Normal, IL award
Undercover, St. Louis Artists Guild, St. Louis, MO; curated by M.J.Goerke
National Book and Language Show, CORE, Denver, CO
Christian Art Show,• award•, E.Lansing, MI
A Readers Art 3, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
2002
Pyramid Atlantic Book Fair, Washington, DC
The Word is Art, Maude Kearns Art Center, Eugene, OR
Michiganders, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
From Our Perspective, Oakland Comm. College, MI
Figurative, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
Christian Art Show,• award•, E.Lansing, MI
Conceptually Bound 2, Butte College Library, Oroville, CA
A Reader’s Art 2, The Art Apartment, E.Lansing, MI
Book Explorations 2001,•Award•, New Art Forum, Kingston, MA
Manual Transmission,•catalog•, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
Book Arts 2002, Bright Hill Center, Treadwell, NY2001
2001
Reader’s Art 1, The Art Apartment, East Lansing, MI
Word/Text/Language, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY
Binding and Unbindings, Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, MI
Book Explorations 2001, Kingston, MA
Women and Books: Uncovered, Converse College, Spartanburg, SC
Altar Show, Domont Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
2000
Gallery 1708, Richmond, VA
In Our Midst:Greater Lansing Artists, Kresge Art Museum, E.Lansing, MI
ANA 29, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana, curated by Lucy Lippard
Erin’s Belly: protected real estate, The Art Apartment, E.Lansing, MI
Fireworks, OIA, New York, NY
Window Art 2000, Adrian, MI-award2-person collaboration
Sacred & Liturgical Art 2000, Springfield, IL
Christian Art Show, E. Lansing, MI
Seeing Voices, Creole Gallery, Lansing, MI
Hope Borbas Library Show, •Best of Show•, Okemos, MI
Book Explorations 2000, Kingston, MA
(Word Picture/Picture Word, Sandusky Cultural Center, Sandusky OH
Jackson Area Show,Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
The Art of Bookmaking, Seminole Community College, Sanford, FL
Evocatively Intimate,Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Three Person Show, Shiawasee Art Council, Owosso, MI
1999
Pyramid Atlantic Book Fair Exhibit, Washington, DC
Eventfull Art, Mainline Art Center, Haverford, PA
Art Michigan: All Media Competition,•Best of Show• Lansing, MI
Printmaking Dialogue, Savannah College Of Art & Design, GA
Turning The Page, Baton Rouge, LA
Scrolling The Page,www.Printalliance.Org
Regional VI Exhibition, Arc Gallery, Chicago, IL
Blue Pony Gallery,Charlotte, NC
Art & Social Justice,Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, IN •award•
Catherine Street Gallery, Staten Island, NY
Art Reach, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Christian Art Show, E.Lansing, MI
Hope Borbas Library Show, Okemos, MI
Book Explorations ‘99, Kingston, MA
Conifer Gallery, Okemos, MI
Bound To Happen, West Virginia University, WV
Northwest Bookfest, Seattle, WA
On and Of Paper, Lanisng Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
1998
Story: Telling, Minnesota Center for the Book, Minneapolis, MN
El Arte de los Libros de Artists, Exposition Internatcionale, Instituta De Artes Graficas De Oaxaca,Oaxaca, Mexico
Sculpture as Book, Trillium Gallery, Lansing, MI
Textiles/Fibers/Threads: the Book Show, Center for Book Art, NYC, NY
The Artists Book II, ,F.A.C.E.T., Taos, NM
Book as Art III,Center for the Arts at the Depot, Steamboat Springs, CO
Pulpworks, Midland center for the Arts, Midland, MIBookitechture, Astra Design Gallery, Richmond, VA
Regional V Exhibition, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
Book/Art/Book, Houston Public Library, Houston, TX
Arts on the River, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Art and Social Justice, Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, IN
1997
The Artists Book, F.A.C.E.T., Taos, NM
Private Corners, South Haven Center for the Arts, South Haven, MI
On and of Paper, University of Michigan, Flint, MI
Northwest Book Fest, Wessel & Leiberman, Seattle, MI
Michigan Artists Competition, Battle Creek Art Center, Battle Creek, MI
1996
Book as Art II, Center for the Arts at the Depot, Steamboat Springs, CO
Open Book, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI; curated by Lynn Avadenka
Bookworks, Santa Monica, CA
1995
Experiments in Book Art, Womanmade Gallery, Chicago, IL; curated by Lisa Grayson & Kathleen Kuiper
1994
Intuition, Gallery of Artifacts and Treasures, Daytona Beach, FL
International Mail Art, Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, CA
Christian Art Show, Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI
1992
The Narrative Art: stories in Contemporary Crafts,Luckenbach Mill Gallery, Bethlehem, PA
Christian Art Show, Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI
1991
Working Women Artists, Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
Visual Potpourri, Museum, Kresge Art Museum, E. Lansing, MI
Christian Art Show, Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI
1990
Christian Art Show, Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI
1989
T.J.Majors Art Exhibition, Peru State College, Peru, NE
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Atlanta College Of Art, Atlanta, GA
Ascension Lutheran Church, East Lansing, MI
Banff Center, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Baylor University, Waco, TX
Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
Brown University Library, Providence, RI
Claremont University, Claremont, CA
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Duke University, Durham, NC
The Getty Research Institute, CA
Habitat for Humanity, Minneapolis, MN
John M. Flaxman Library, Chicago, IL
Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Minnesota Center for Book Art, Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
National Library, London, GB
Newberry Library, Chicago, IL
Otis College, CA
Pratt Institute of Art, Brooklyn, NY
Ruth And Marvin Sackner Archive Of Concrete And Visual Poetry, FL
Ruben Collection, New York, NY
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Toronto Public Library, Toronto, Canada
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
The University Of Washington Library, Seattle, WA
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Residencies
Grants
Awards
2019 – (Untitled), Athens Art Gallery, Indiana
2019 – Semi-Finalist, McKnight Fellowship, MN
2015 – Repetitions and Patterns, Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
2013 – Finalist, 7th Pollux Awards, London, UK
2013 – Savage Juried Art Competition, Savage Art Center, Savage, MN.
2004 – Bright Hill Literary Center, Treadwell NY, 2004.
2002 – Book Explorations 2002, New Art Forum, Kingston, MA.
2001 – Book Explorations 2001, New Art Forum, Kingston, MA.
2000 – Jackson Area Show, Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI,
2000 – Window Art 2000, Adrian, MI.
1999 – Art Michigan, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI (Best of Show).
1998 – Art and Social Justice, Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, IN.
Christian Art Show, Ascension Lutheran Church, E. Lansing, MI, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994,1999,2000, 2002,
Hope Borbas Library Show, Okemos, MI, 1999, 2000 (Best of Show), 2003.
2020
Pandemic Proof, Odetta Digital, https://tinyurl.com/y6qh39pz
Geometric Stitch, Susan Hensel Projects
In and Out of the Fold, Susan Hensel Projects
Pandemic Art Lessons, http://gallery.stkate.edu
Spring Online Gallery, https://www.tsgny.org/gallery-28-spring-2020-2