Biography
Australian – Born 1960
Susan O’Doherty is a contemporary Australian multidisciplinary artist. Her practice includes painting, mixed media construction, textiles, sculpture, video and photography, creating provocative, ironic, thought provoking and at times sinister works questioning gender roles and the portrayal of women in popular culture and history – identity, consumerism, violence and memory. Born in Brisbane Australia in 1960, O’Doherty studied film prosthetics and make-up in Sydney, beginning her early career in film and theatre. In the mid 90’s she was painting and working as an artist. In the early 2000s she expanded her practice to include mixed media assemblage, sculpture and collage, appropriating and recycling everyday materials, textiles, household implements and found objects.
Susan exhibited 450 painted portraits of visual arts practitioners ‘900 Eyes, Domestic Lives’ in 2008-9 at Manly, Tweed River and Maitland regional galleries. She participated in Macquarie University Gallery’s ‘Reimag(in)ing SomaSex’ and in ‘Diarama’ at Wollongong Art Gallery. In 2014-17, she collaborated on major Regional Gallery Touring Exhibition ‘Moving House’ with artist husband Peter O’Doherty, incorporating assemblage and painting of the various rooms of the houses that she lived in as a child. Marking the centenary of the Anzac Gallipoli landing, the artist participated in commemorative exhibitions ‘Contemporary Gallipoli’, ‘Your Friend the Enemy’ and ‘Wept, Wait and Be Worthy’ at Macquarie University Gallery, S.H. Ervin Gallery, The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and regional galleries in Bathurst, Goulburn, Cowra, Hawkesbury and Grafton NSW. Her exhibition ‘Pinned to the Wall’, looking at sexual politics, domestic violence and consumerism travelled to Ballarat, Sydney and Yarrila Arts and Museum Coffs Harbour 2017-2018. In 2021/2022 a series of her textile sculptural heads referring to hospital staff was included in a group exhibition ‘A Conspicuous Object – the Maitland Hospital’ at Maitland Regional Art Gallery; and in 2023 at NSW Health Infrastructure as part of their ‘Elevate Exhibition’. Susan also participated in Macquarie University Art Gallery’s ‘Vibrations in Australian Drawing’ group exhibition in 2023 and in 2024 she participated in Femme-Maison: Imaged Boundaries exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the women’s Art Movement in Australia and Macquarie University’s 60th anniversary. In 2025 she was commissioned by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre to create textile and wooden sculptures for the exhibition ‘Giving Voice: Celebrating 50 years of the Liverpool Women’s Health Centre’ at Yellamundie – Liverpool Library and Art Gallery. Also in 2025 Susan was included in 25 Moments, a group exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery to mark their 25th anniversary.
O’Doherty was selected for the 8th Beijing International Art Biennale in 2019, also participating that year in the Art Central Hong Kong art fair and at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre for the Everyday Madonna exhibition focusing on contemporary depictions of the Madonna and Child. Susan has been a finalist in the Glover Art Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, Salon Des Refuses, Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Redlands Art Award, Mosman Art Prize, the National Still Life Award and KAAF art prize. Her works are in the collections of the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, the City of Sydney, Smorgon Collection and Regional Art Galleries throughout NSW. The artist currently lives and works in Sydney Australia.
Susan is represented by Art Atrium and Art Atrium 48