Susan Dory creates complexity through the repetition of a single element. She builds her paintings with many layers, painting, pouring, masking, and pay particular attention to the negative space created by the painted forms.
Using capsules shapes, Dory explores their possibilities—docking, lodging together, interlocking in groups, floating freely, and tunneling through space. The capsule shape itself is fascinating in the way it can be deconstructed. Remove its curved ends and all that remains is two parallel lines, like an equals sign. Whereas removing the parallel lines leaves the two curved ends, like parenthesis, or a departure in a body of text or an insertion of a symbolic unit, she explains.
Dory has won numerous awards and grants. Her work is exhibited extensively across the United States.
"Susan’s work explores the infinite possibilities offered by one simple shape. I appreciate how she builds complexity out of simplicity in her work by using repetition, overlap, and transparency."