Born in New York City, Susan Frankl was deeply influenced by her parents’ creativity. Her mother, a dress and pattern maker working on Seventh Avenue, instilled in her an appreciation for form, shape, color, pattern, and texture. From her father, a tool and die maker who valued craftmanship, she learned the importance of honing one’s craft. As Holocaust survivors they affirmed resilience, the sanctity of human life, and the importance of caring for others. These early influences guided her toward a 40-year career as a primary care physician and medical educator. Yet, throughout her career, she maintained an appreciation for design and the arts. 

Susan found that art can provide a space for reflection and healing. As a child, frequent weekend trips to the countryside with family seeded her appreciation for fresh air and open spaces. Susan grew to become an avid hiker, and her love for the natural world - the sky, the mountains, the sea, and the light - deepened. In the past few years, a passion for painting bloomed much like nature itself. 

Susan started her art journey using acrylic paint and collage on canvas to depict the landscape near her home in Truro, MA. After an influential week in an artist residency at in Southern Tuscany, she continued to work on translating the landscape to paint. Most recently, Susan has turned to abstract landscape painting as a means of expression that honors her personal journey and her passion for the healing arts and nature. Her work continues to be deeply inspired by the ocean and dune landscapes of Cape Cod. Working with acrylic paint, gold leaf and collage, she aims to express her joy and awe of the natural world with the hope of building curiosity and connection with the viewer. 

She has studied with Amy Wynne, Scott Gellatly, and Kathy Deflice-Secor. Her art has been showcased in a juried exhibition, the 24th Annual Frances N. Roddy Competition in 2023. Her work was also selected for publication in the 2024 calendar of Concord Art Center for the Visual Arts.