Revision 991674471 of "S. P. Harper" on enwiki

{{short description|American artist}}

{{Infobox artist
| name          = S.P. Harper
| image         =SPHarper painting studio.jpg
| imagesize     = 
| caption       = S.P. Harper in her painting studio
| birth_name     = Susan Gail Picking
| birth_date     = {{Birth date |1955|03|21}}
| birth_place      = [[Pasadena, California]]
| death_date     =
| death_place    =
| nationality   = American
| residence      = Los Angeles, Calif.
| education    = BFA, Roski School of Fine Art, [[University of Southern California]], [[ArtCenter College of Design]], [[American University in Paris]], France
| alma_mater = Summa Cum Laude, [[University of Southern California]]
| notable_works = 
| style = Abstract Painitng, Still Life, Bricollage
| movement = Ecocentric Art Movement
| spouse       = [[ Scott Harper (composer)]]
| awards   = 
| elected   =
| patrons  = In the collection of Mandy and Cliff Einstein
}}

'''Susan Picking Harper''' (born '''Susan Gail Picking'''; March 21, 1955) is an [[United States|American]] artist based in [[Los Angeles, California]] whose work consists of abstract paintings that are part of the Ecocentric Art Movement. She is a teaching artist at American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

==Life==
Harper was born in [[Pasadena, California]], but grew up in [[Rancho Santa Fe, California]], [[San Diego County]]. Her grandfather, Archibald Picking was a highly skilled diamond-cutter called a [[Diamantaire]] who was responsible for [[Diamond cut|cutting]], polishing and transforming a rough diamond into a finished gemstone ready for setting. This had an influential effect upon Susan's artwork. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdvoyager.com/interview/art-life-s-p-harper/|title=Art and Life with S.P. Harper|date=23 July 2018|website=San Diego Voyager|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref>

Harper studied art under the mentorship of Lyrical Abstractionist [[Paul Jenkins (painter)]] at the [[American University of Paris]], France. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Roski School of Fine Art at [[University of Southern California]] in 1977. She is also an alumnus of [[ArtCenter College of Design]], Class of '79.  She lived in New York producing work for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles to teach and exhibit her artworks.  As an Art Professor at the [[American Jewish University]], she specializes in abstract painting and Ecocentric Art. She is currently a member of the [[Los Angeles Art Association]] and the board of directors for the Westwood Branch Public Library.<ref name=artavita>{{cite web |title=S.P. Harper |url=https://www.artavita.com/artists/16025-s-p-harper%7C |website=Artavita |publisher=Artavita |accessdate=19 December 2018 |quote=By reforming and re-employing, the work fits into the Ecocentric Art Movement to reduce, reuse and recycle.}}</ref>

==Works==
Harper's concentration is an expansive study of gemstones and their physical properties: shape, facets, brilliance, luster, refraction, and color. By method of bricolage and assemblage, she explores reclaimed materials and found objects to construct a Combine Painting out of "discarded tablecloth, wallpaper, curtain, graphic posters, upholstery fabric, painting, canvas, commercial art, building and metal scrap".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artcenter.edu/connect/dot-magazine/articles/finding-your-repurpose-meet-ecocentric-artist-s-p-harper|title=Finding Your Repurpose: Meet Ecocentric Artist S.P. Harper|last=Wetherbe|first=Jamie|date= 2 July 2018|website=Dot Magazine|publisher=ArtCenter College of Design|access-date=9 January 2018|quote="Diverse media such as discarded tablecloth, wallpaper, curtain, graphic posters, upholstery fabric, painting, canvas, commercial art, building and metal scrap are painting surfaces."}}</ref> This cyclical use of diverse mixed media in her body of work connects her to the [[Ecocentric Art Movement]].<ref name=artavita>{{cite web |title=S.P. Harper |url=https://www.artavita.com/artists/16025-s-p-harper%7C |website=Artavita |publisher=Artavita |accessdate=19 December 2018 |quote=By reforming and re-employing, the work fits into the Ecocentric Art Movement to reduce, reuse and recycle.}}</ref> She paints the light as it passes through gemstones employing classical still life techniques, yet their characteristics give way to an abstract style of painting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artcenter.edu/connect/dot-magazine/articles/4x4-fall-2018.html|title=4x4 Gallery: Alumni Work That Transforms, Moves, Emotes, Gleams|last=Schou|first=Solvej|date= 22 October 2018|website=Dot Magazine|publisher=Art Center College of Design|access-date= 9 September 2018|quote="S.P. Harper paints images of gemstones and jewels on recycled and reclaimed materials, mixing the classical tradition of still life painting with modernism."}}</ref> 
Each painting specifies the stone type, its original name, and the type of cut carved on the stone. The titles of her artworks encapsulates the wide range in gem-cutting techniques. 

The collection of paintings, '''Gods of Fire''', are exhibited in contemporary art galleries throughout the West Coast including [http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/calendar/2018/17/3/odysseyii?rq=odyssey%20ii Torrance Art Museum], [[Bergamot Station]], [[Gallery 825]], and South Bay Contemporary Gallery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Espe Harper |url=https://www.saatchiart.com/www.spharper.com |website=Saatchi Art |publisher=Saatchi Art |accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> Her work is currently in the contemporary art collection of Mandy and Cliff Einstein.

==Notable exhibitions==
*''‘Wadjet’ Brilliant-Cut Diamond;'' Acrylic on canvas salvage, 30 x 24 inches was exhibited at the Neutra Institute Museum Gallery for the ''Dulce Stein presents 100 Artists Exhibition'' on October 4, 2018.
*''‘Ra’ Ruby on Landscape;'' Oil and acrylic on canvas 16 x 16 inches was shown at the [http://www.torranceartmuseum.com/calendar/2018/17/3/odysseyii?rq=odyssey%20ii Torrance Art Museum].
*''‘Amaterasu’ Cushion-cut Diamond;'' Acrylic on bandana, 59 x 59 inches was exhibited at [http://arts.aju.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/imagine/ Imagine: A Visual Arts Exhibit, Platt and Borstein Gallery, AJU, Bel-Air, California].
* Art Expo Yerevan, Museum of Modern Art, Yerevan, Armenia, curated by Narine Isajanyan
* Silence Breakers, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven, Connecticut
* L.A. Fashion Week/Art Hearts Fashion, Six Summit Gallery, Ivoryton, Connecticut

==Publications==
*''[https://www.worldcat.org/title/101/oclc/958484002 101 Contemporary Artists]'', Artvoices Art Books, edited by Terrence Sanders<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sanders |first1=Terrance |title=101 Contemporary Artists |date=2016 |publisher=Artvoices Art Books |pages=218 |isbn=9780692650820 |edition=Vol. 1 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/101/oclc/958484002 |accessdate=23 January 2019 |ref=958484002}}</ref>
*''Los Angeles Art Association Book Volume 2''

==References==
 {{Reflist}}

==External Links==
*{{Official|http://www.spharper.com|S.P. Harper (Official website)}}
*[https://www.laaa.org/s-p-harper/ Los Angeles Art Association]
*[https://www.wmagazine.com/story/mandy-and-cliff-einstein-art-collection-home-los-angeles Mandy and Cliff Einstein at Home: Inside the Museum-Worthy Art Collection of the L.A. Power Couple]

{{Authority control}} 
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[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American painters]]
[[Category:American women painters]]
[[Category:Living people]]