Today we’d like to introduce you to Susanne Tabet.
Susanne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The idea that I would one day call myself a full-time painter once felt impossible. A studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, features in art magazines, and a solo exhibition on the horizon in Washington, D.C. were not part of the plan—or even the dream.
I was working a corporate job when I first discovered painting in my early twenties, but it wasn’t until about six years ago that it became a serious, daily practice. I committed to the studio in my basement for hours each day, year after year—experimenting, studying, unlearning, and starting over. Gradually, a distinct visual language began to emerge.
Three years ago, I juried for a studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Although I did not make the cut at first, I was fortunate enough to sublease from a resident artist who became my biggest supporter—and a lifelong friend.
Viewers often reference Picasso when encountering my work, though my deeper roots lie in the emotional intensity of German Expressionism and the enduring pull of the human figure, particularly the female form. Painting, for me, is a way of accessing and expressing layered emotional states that resist words.
Having lived and worked across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, my global experiences are woven into the fabric of my work. Cultural memory, bold gestures, and intimate emotion converge on the canvas. Each painting exists somewhere between the personal and the archetypal, celebrating women not only as individuals, but as a collective, resilient force.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As an artist, I face obstacles every day—both practical and internal. Painting has taught me patience, endurance, and, above all, a strong sense of self-belief. Each painting moves through multiple stages before it is complete, and the process is rarely smooth. There are moments of doubt, resistance, and uncertainty embedded in the work itself.
Interestingly, my favorite pieces are often the ones I struggled with the most. Each layer of paint carries its own tension and resolution, ultimately adding depth to the narrative. Those challenges—both on the canvas and within myself—have become an essential part of how I grow as an artist.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create bold, commanding paintings that center on female empowerment. Through expressive figurative work, I explore strength, vulnerability, resilience, and beauty—revealing how each woman carries her own story while embodying a shared, universal spirit.
I am eagerly anticipating my upcoming solo exhibition, I Am Every Woman, at Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C., on view from February 20 through March 21, 2026.
The exhibition is open to the public, and I look forward to seeing many new faces, and art enthusiasts at the opening night on February 20, 5-8pm!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I spent part of my childhood in Zimbabwe, Africa, a place whose magic still lingers in my heart. I have two older siblings, and our days were spent outdoors, running barefoot, climbing trees and playing with our dog named Bruno.
In the garden, a rope hung from one of the trees with a short wooden stick attached horizontally. My siblings and I would take turns gripping the wood, twisting ourselves tighter and tighter as the rope coiled above us. When we finally let go, the rope would unwind and send us spinning, one toe firmly in the sand, like an ice skater spinning on ice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.susannetabet.com
- Instagram: susanne_tabet
