Susan Mackowiak is a Louisville, Kentucky-based artist whose work celebrates the beauty, movement, and serenity of the ocean. Working primarily in oil and mixed media, she creates vibrant paintings inspired by coastal landscapes, marine life, and the peaceful connection people feel with the sea.
Born in Miami, Florida, Susan developed an early appreciation for the ocean that continues to influence her work today. After moving to Kentucky as a teenager, she earned her bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the University of Louisville. She spent more than twenty years as an award-winning graphic designer, leading the creative team that developed marketing materials for eight consecutive seasons for the Kentucky Opera.
While graphic design refined her eye for composition and color, painting became her true creative passion. Her artistic journey led her to study with internationally renowned contemporary painter Rebecca Schweiger at The Art Studio NY in New York City, where she further developed her expressive approach to oil painting and mixed media.
Susan is Professor Emerita at Ivy Tech Southern Indiana, where she taught graphic design and painting workshops, encouraging others to discover their own creative voice.
Today, Susan creates from her home studio in Louisville, bringing memories of the coast to life through rich color, texture, and movement. Her paintings are designed to evoke the calm, wonder, and joy of being near the water, offering collectors a lasting reminder of the peace and beauty found by the sea.