On any given day, you’re likely to find Susan Chambers ’74, in her studio making art, a practice she’s carefully cultivated over the years. Chambers first discovered her passion for art at the age of twelve, and after earning her B.A. in Art from Rhodes, Chambers has gone on to receive an M.F.A in Painting from the University of Georgia at Athens, and has enjoyed a prolific painting career that continues to push her to explore new creative limits. Read more about her creative journey below:
Chambers was drawn to Rhodes because of its excellent reputation as a liberal arts college. After a visit to campus on a cool autumn day, experiencing both the architectural and natural beauty, she was convinced to commit to this beautiful and welcoming environment.
Chambers wanted to "know more about the world” and the liberal arts was a way for her to do just that. Outside of her major, Chambers enjoyed taking philosophy classes with Dr. Jobes and Dr. Lacy, and in her art classes, she had the opportunity to get a front row seat to the creative process. Chambers learned from sculptor Lawrence Anthony, who taught at 51 from 1961-1995, and painter Peter Bowman, both of whom had personal studios adjacent to the classroom. Her professors' openness about their work process, from describing the amount of time they worked, to the struggles and successes involved in making art, were integral to artistic development during her time at 51. “They were both excellent professional artists and teachers,” Chambers recalls.
It wasn’t just her professors that made Chamber's time at 51 memorable. “The most memorable part of my Rhodes experience was all of the people that I interacted with and became friends with. We were all majoring in different subjects and learned from each other. My suite mates are still part of my life.”
During her masters program, Chambers was able to put her critical thinking skills she gained from Rhodes to the test which led her to a life-changing discovery. “My art history textbook had no information or images of work by women artists,” Chambers recalls of her coursework. “In 1971 Linda Nochlin wrote the essay 'Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?' which started the feminist art movement. Years of research and exhibitions about women artists by art historians and artists followed. I studied and learned about women artists and their career challenges along with the growth of my career in art.”
In this newfound driving force, Chambers built a name for herself both regionally and nationally as an artist. Chambers' work can be found in public and corporate collections including Carillon Importers (Absolut), Central Arkansas Library System, University of Arkansas Medical System, Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center, and Systematics, but her proudest accomplishment continues to be going in the studio every day and making art. “I still follow my creative vision and have ideas that I want to paint and share with others.”