Susan von Gries is an international abstract expressionist artist whose work has been shaped by her extensive global experiences. Having lived in El Salvador, Brazil, Venezuela, Belgium, and The Netherlands, and traveled across Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Near East, Susan has drawn inspiration from a diverse array of cultures and environments. During her more than 20 years as an expatriate, the last 15 of which were spent in Belgium and The Netherlands, Susan delved deeply into her passion for art. Her artwork has been exhibited in Brussels and The Hague, and her sculptures and paintings are part of private collections in Europe and North America. Susan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin and has continued to evolve her artistic practice throughout her career. Now based in Sarasota, Florida, she remains dedicated to changing and refining her style, constantly pushing the boundaries of contemporary abstract expressionism. Artist Statement: There is a musical nature to my paintings. For me, applying paint to a canvas feels akin to an orchestra conductor shaping beautiful music with exuberance. My father was a musician, and music was always present in our home. It is this soundscape that transports me into my subconscious, allowing me to paint intuitively and spontaneously, interpreting my feelings through color and gesture. The primary elements in my work—line, bold colors, and texture—are vital because they convey emotions like joy, rhythm, agitation, and tension. My work is deeply influenced by music, particularly Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and, more recently, Joaquin Domingos’s Concerto de Araguz. Through these musical influences, I hope to transmit the intimate association I feel with sound and rhythm to the viewer, creating a visual experience that resonates with the energy and emotion of music.