BIO

Sue Friesz is an American artist whose work includes drawing, painting, sculpture, and assemblage. She spent her formative years growing up in the Midwest with a family passionate about nature and the environment. She uses shapes, contours, and patterns found in the plant world as well as the built world, often combining them in some degree of balance.  

Friesz’s work has been in solo and group exhibitions, nationally and regionally. It is included in corporate and private collections. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, in Studio Art, from University of Missouri, Kansas City, and a Master of Arts, in Studio Art, from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg. She spent the latter part of the 1990’s living in Asuncion, Paraguay, Curitiba, Brazil, and Beni Suef, Egypt. Friesz now maintains a studio in Newport, Oregon.

C.V.

Education
Master of Arts, Studio Art, Central Missouri State University
Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art, University of Missouri Kansas City
Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, CA

Select Solo Exhibitions
2022 Nature, Lines, and Contours, Chessman Gallery, September-October, Lincoln City, OR
2017   Nature Reconstructed, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR.
2014   Transformation, PDX Window Project, Portland, OR.
2010   Plant Structures, University of Missouri Kansas City Gallery of Art, Kansas City, MO.
2008   Landforms, Blue Bike Art Space, Blue Bike Architectures, Kansas City, MO.
2005   Gladys Woods Kemper Art Center, William Woods University, Fulton, MO.
2004   Locations and Contrasts, Jacqueline B. Charno Gallery, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO.

Select Group Exhibition
2021 Gallery 114, Group Show, September, Portland, OR.
2021 Visual Arts Center, Group Show, March, Newport, OR
2018   Abstract Catalyst, Gillia Art Gallery, Portland, OR.
2016   Salon: Portland2016 Biennial, The Studio Visits, Michelle Grabner, Portland, OR.
2015   Gallery Without Walls, 510 Museum & ARTspace, Lake Oswego, OR.
2012   Avenue of the Arts, Public Arts Commission and Grant 2012, Kansas City, MO.
2011   Chain Letter, Samson Projects, Boston, MA.
2010   Kansas City Flatfiles Invitational, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.
2010   Urban/Suburban Invitational, Benefit for Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom, Overland Park, KS.
2010   New American Paintings, Anniversary Addition, Exhibition-in-Print, Boston, MA.
2009   Urban/Suburban Invitational, Benefit for Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom, Overland Park, KS.
2008   Kansas City Flatfile Invitational 2008, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO.
2008   Urban/Suburban Invitational, Benefit for the Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom, Overland Park, KS.
2008   New American Paintings, Exhibition-in-Print, Boston, MA.
2006   Sioux City Art Center, 60th Exhibition, Sioux City, IA.
2005   New American Paintings, Exhibition-in-Print, Boston, MA.
2005   DFP @ Fahrenheit Gallery, Kansas City, MO.
2005   Built Against Site, Paragraph Gallery, Kansas City, MO.
2005   Mechanical Mutations, Urban Culture Project, Jenkins Music Building, Kansas City, MO.

Honors, Awards & Presentations
2022 Jentel Artist Residency, Banner, WY
2012   Avenue of the Arts Foundation Public Arts Commission and Grant 2012
2009   Artist Inc. Professional Development Workshop Grant
2009   Artist Lecture Series, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO.
2008   Art Through Architecture Program, a partnership of Charlotte Street Foundation and the American Institute of Architects, Kansas City, MO.
2006   Visiting Artist Slide-Lecture, Avila University, Kansas City, MO.
2005   Artist Lecture Series, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO.
2005   Visiting Artist Slide-Lecture, William Woods University, Fulton, MO.
2003 Edwin Austin Abbey Memorial Fund Fellowship Recipient

Select Collections
Sprint Corporation
Gould, Evans, Goodman Associates
Ramsey-Schilling Consulting Group
Labconco Corporation

Select Bibliography
2017 Portland Art Dealers Association, Monthly, p. 3, October, 2017. (Reproduction)
2014 Richard Speer, Sue Friesz: Transformation, Visual Arts, Willamette Week, March 19, 2014. (Reproduction)
2012 Tracy Abein, “Avenue of the Arts reclaims its Central Status”, Pitch News, June 26, 2012. (Reproduction)
2012 Alice Thorson, “Avenue of the Arts is Back in Downtown KC”, Kansas City Star, June 10, 2012.
2010 Nick Malewski, “Nature in the Abstract”, Kansas City Star, p. 21, November 18, 2010. (Reproduction)
2004 Preview, “2004 Kansas City Flatfile,” Kansas City Star, February 6, 2004.
2004 Kathleen K. Desmond “Vital, Versatile, Vibrant, and Viable,” Art Source, Kansas City Artist Coalition, printed by Anthem Media, p. 7, 56, 2004. (Reproduction)
2004 Preview, “Sue Friesz, Locations and Contrasts,” Kansas City Star.
2004 Valerie Zell, “Coalition Presents a Study of Exotic Locals,” Kansas City Star, March 26, 2004. (Reproduction)
2003 “Mural Fellowships from National Academy,” Artnet.com Magazine News, p. 2, August 14, 2003.