Susan Dobson facts for kids

Susan Dobson (born September 19, 1965) is a Canadian artist. She lives and works in Guelph, Ontario. She is famous for her photographs and art installations. Her art often explores city areas and suburban life.

Susan Dobson once explained her art. She said that many suburban homes look very similar. People living there try hard to make their homes unique. They want their house to feel special and truly theirs. Her art often looks at these ideas.

Dobson's artwork has been shown all over the world. This includes Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. She was part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Her art was even displayed on billboards in Vancouver for an exhibition called "Endlessly Traversed Landscapes."

About Susan Dobson

Susan Dobson was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, on September 19, 1965. She spent her early years in Canada. Later, her family moved to Germany because of her father's job. He changed from a land developer to an opera singer! Even in Germany, she spent summers visiting her grandfather in Nova Scotia.

Susan became interested in photography when she was about 9 or 10 years old. She took her first photo with her mother's camera. It was a picture of a poinsettia plant. The light made it look like a silhouette in the final print. When she was a teenager, she asked a nature photographer named Freeman Patterson for advice. He told her about the challenges of being an artist. He also gave her helpful tips on how to start.

Susan studied at Ryerson University in Toronto. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in 1988. After that, she worked as an editorial photographer. This means she took photos for magazines like Toronto Life. She later earned a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) degree from the University of Guelph in 1997. She has been a professor at the University of Guelph since 2004.

Where Her Art Is Kept

Susan Dobson's art is part of many important collections. These are places where art is stored and shown. Some of these include:

• The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography (part of the National Gallery of Canada)
• Macdonald Stewart Art Centre
• Portland Art Museum
• BMO Financial Group
• Accenture
• Art Gallery of Windsor
• Oakville Galleries
• State Street Trust Company
• Many private collections

Art Shows

Susan Dobson has had many solo art shows. This means her art was the only art shown at these exhibitions. Her shows have been in many different cities and countries. Some of her exhibitions include:

• 2016: "Come Up to My Room" at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Canada.
• 2015: "Viewfinder" at the Ottawa School of Art in Ottawa, Canada.
• 2010: "Endlessly Traversed Landscapes" in Vancouver, Canada. This show used billboards to display her art.
• 2008: "Temporary Architectures" in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
• 2005: "Open House" in Mexico City, Mexico, and Portland, Oregon, USA.
• 2000: "Home Invasion" in Toronto, Canada.

Awards and Recognition

Susan Dobson has won several awards for her photography and art. These awards recognize her talent and hard work.

• 2006: Award of Distinction, The International Colour Awards.
• 2001: Gold National Magazine Award for Urban and Natural Landscapes.
• 1998: K.M. Hunter Emerging Artist Award for Visual Arts from the Ontario Arts Council.
• 1997: Best of Show at the "Crossing Borders" exhibition. She also received scholarships from the University of Guelph.
• 1991: Gold National Magazine Award for Photojournalism.