space,

light,

perspective and form

It is influenced by

minimalism,

geometry,

light,

balance and architecture

however predominately the focus is on how

the viewer experiences space.

My work

alters,

highlights

or creates space

for the viewer to interact with.

So that the viewer

questions how they negotiate space

and how architecture intrudes on their physical space..

My work investigates how impact can be created and aims to

 become a physical and psychological experience for the viewer.

illusions

are exploited in order to encourage the viewer to rethink the way they perceive.

To enable the audience to be able to form a relationship to the work,

scale

becomes important.

Using scale that is recognisable to the viewer,

evoking architecture but to a smaller scale,

so the space becomes more

                                                             intimate or intrusive.

BA Hons in Fine Art Sculpture at The Glasgow School of Art.

Upper second.Dissertation subject- The psychological effects of light.

Electives taken as part of course: General Art History course; Sculpture in the Expanded Form; Philosophy and Aesthetics; Art and Otherness. Goals scheme- Teaching 6 sessions of art to 9 year olds; Lecture series on Protest and Direct action.

5 month exchange at Kyoto Seika University, Japan. - Courses: stone carving; bronze casting; metalwork; general sculpture; Japanese language

Boston High School

·    A Levels - Art and Design (A), Product Design (A), English Literature (B). Awarded A level Art     Prize Deputy head of house and prefect.

·    As Levels- French (D), Textiles (B). Awarded As Level Art Prize

·    GCSE- 1 A* 5 A’s 4 B’s 1C. Awarded GCSE Art Prize

Other Art experience undertaken

• Ceramic course with Lincolnshire Potter John Snowden from 1997 to 2008
• Workshop in metal work at Wysing Arts Centre Cambridge
• Stone carving with Abas Hashimi at Wysing Arts Centre Cambridge
• Wood carving workshop at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
• Screen printing workshop at the Glasgow Print Studios. Screen printing elective at the Glasgow school of art.
• Experience in casting and photography alongside ceramics, wood and metal work, textiles and plastic manufacture.
• Assistant art teacher- going to schools around Glasgow to teach primary 6 children.
• Work experience and workshop leader at Giles Secondary school.
• Glass work self initiated elective at Glasgow school of art.
• Mentor to art students at Boston High school.
• Ten day residency in Rihimaki Finland, including a four day public art project with artist Lisa Torrell.
• Experience working in the workshops of Motley engineering East Keal.
• Install assistant at Wysing Arts Centre. Cambridge.
• Artist Assistant to Sculptor Andrew Tanser.
• Assisting with the install of a permanent public sculpture at Addenbrookes hospital.
• Memeber of the Mutual Collective. Glasgow.
• Attended the Wysing artist retreat for wrong answers.
• Life drawing teacher to University of Cambridge architecture students.
• Artist in Residence at Cambridge Art School. The Ruskin. Anglia Ruskin. 20011-2012
• Artist in Residence at Taylor Vinters. Cambridge. 2011- current.
• Giving talks and tutorials to students on the BA and Ma courses at Cambridge School of Art.
• Documenting work professionally for Future Cities.
• Giving a talk to students at St Andrews College on the foundation art course.
• Accepted to be part of the EXPOSURE program for artists. Run by Momentum Arts and the Arts Council. 
• Gave a talk and welding  demonstration to Cambridge University art students. 

Exhibition Experience

• Muromachi art court. Kyoto . Japan 2009
• Sub Club Glasgow 2009
• P and M framing 2010
• Counterbalance- Solo show. Vic Gallery 2010 
• Glasgow school of Art Degree Show – 2010
• Glasgow Fleeto Graduate Show- Shoreditch Town Hall London    2010
• Papergirl- The soup kitchen Manchester. 2010
• CutClick. Milkwood Gallery. Cardiff
• Guerilla Gallery- Dundee 2010
• Room 52- Boston. 2010/2011
• Blurred Boundaries. The Old Ambulance Depot. Edinburgh. 2011
• New Blood. Williams Art. Gwydir street. Cambridge. 2011
• Red Shed at the BBC. Glasgow 2011
• Blue smile. Trumpington. 2011
• Taylor Vinters. 2011
• Cambridge Open Studios. 2011
• The Saatchi Art Trail. The Big Chill festival. 2011
•                 TRANSITION.Solo show at the Makers Gallery. Cambridge. 2011
•                 Iwakura. The Briggait. Glasgow. 2012
•                 Diagonal Circularity. 100 Regents Street. Cambridge. Visualise. Future Cities.

Gallery Representation

Cam @WilliamsArt- http://www.williamsart.co.uk/ 

2010- 2011

Transmission Gallery Member. 2010-2011

http://www.transmissiongallery.org/members/display/241

 Online  Publications

http://www.pantone449.com/449____4OUR_4OUR_9INE/ART__SUSIE_OLCZAK.html

http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_Glasgow-School-of-Art-Degree-Show/blog/24002/126249.html

 http:/news.scotsman.com/arts/Art-review-Undergraduate-Degree-Show.6361331 

http://community.thisiscentralstation.com/_Glasgow-School-of-Art-Degree-Show/blog/24002/126249.ht

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/boston/Undefined-Headline/article-2409190detail/article.html l

http://www.benandpaul.biz/new-and-talented

http://papergirlmanchester.tumblr.com/

http://www.frontroomcambridge.com/2010/11/05/susie-olczak

 http://issuu.com/cutclick/docs/cutclick_mail_art

http://o-gil-vie.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/arts/the_red_shed_art_installation_at_bbc_scotland.shtml

http://www.designweek.co.uk/ho​me/blog/big-chill-courts-big-d​esign-names/3028910.article

 Commercial services.

About the Artist 

Susie Olczak specialises in sculpture photography and installation. Her work explores space, light, perspective and form. Predominantly the focus is on how the viewer experiences space. It is influenced by minimalism, geometry, light, balance and architecture which often become components to each piece. Her work alters, highlights or creates space for the viewer to interact with. She controls the audience in order that they question how they negotiate space and how architecture intrudes on them. The work investigates how impact can be created and aims to become a physical and psychological experience for the viewer.  She creates unusual, modern and thought provoking site specific pieces of work, which is exemplified in the following case studies.  

Services offered 

Commissions -Site specific sculptures installations and photographs. Non site specific original artwork. Work available on a loan basis. 

Artist assistant- Current employers include. Andrew Tanser and Abbas Hashimi.  

Commerical photographer.- Previous employment- Select English. Producing marketing photographs for the school. 

Workshop leader/ student mentor. Previous employment includes the Glasgow School of art and The Giles School. 

Case Studies 

Study 1-

Charles Saatchi

Susie OIczak was commissioned to produce an outdoor light piece at the Big Chill Festival 2011 for Charles Saatchi.

As part of this year's Big Chill festival in the Uk, Saatchi Online will be presenting seven emerging artists who will transform the Festival's art trail, turning it into a visual wonderland for both day and night. Susie Olczak will be creating new immersive installations, playing with light, our spatial surroundings and optical illusion. Also at the Big Chill for the first time will be Art Ping Pong. The Saatchi Gallery has commissioned four bespoke tables by some of the UK'S leading artists- Ron Arad, Gavin Turk, Richard Woods and Jim Lambie- for festival goers to play on.

Written by Rebecca Wilson. Saatchi Gallery Curator.

Study two-

Taylor Vinters Soliciters Cambridge.

“Taylor Vinters has been freshening up the interior of its Merlin Place HQ by showcasing the work of a young and upcoming Cambridge based artist, Susie Olczak. Susie’s work is shown regularly in Cambridge and in Glasgow, she has also exhibited in Edinburgh and London and at the BBC building in Scotland.  Internationally her work has been exhibited in Finland and in Japan. Susie explained, “ I created the work for the Atrium and reception areas to work well with the space and general feel of Merlin Place.  The minimal and geometric works fit with the aesthetics of the atrium space and act as a focal point for people entering the building.”

Ed Turner Managing Partner said; “We are really enjoying working with Susie who has challenged our perceptions and re-think the familiar space in and around our building.  The photographs are of original sculptures by Susie and they aim to give the effect of an optical illusion, they draw the viewer in and out of the image, consequently distorting their perspective. Because of this aesthetic they become very subtly controversial and for this reason have become a real talking point with colleagues and clients, so much so that we are commissioning Susie to create some new vibrant, colourful and exciting works for our building which she is creating by photographing neon light installations.”

Written by Tim Hill.

Study three-

BBC Scotland

'Retreat' a light installation situated in a disused garden shed strives to play on the idea of a shed being a retreat for people to escape to spend time alone. By placing modern lighting inside, the intention is to play on the quirkiness of the placement of this shed within the office space itself. The work aims to be a holistic enclosure which viewers can gaze into and lose themselves in the beauty and simplicity of the light. It acts as a retreat from their hectic daily lives within the office. The luminous work contrasts the low lighting in the office space and when set against the dull skies of Glasgow it will act as a light box to brighten the moods of the viewer. The work will hopefully increase the awareness of the office workers of the beauty but also the intensity of fluorescent strip lighting which often they are exposed to for unnatural amounts of time. The work changes throughout the day. As the sun goes down the light intensifies and the viewer’s reaction to it will hopefully become stronger as they view the work glowing amidst the darkness.

Written by the Artist herself.

Study four-

Glasgow City Council.

 “The project by Art School students, funded by Glasgow City Council, intends to create a mural to combat the graffiti that frequently covers the walls and to make the underpass a more public-friendly place. The design will also have practical implications as the students will use mirrors and extra lighting to make the underpass safer for use at night, as well as using an anti-graffiti paint to prevent further vandalism. The council installed new lighting earlier this month as part of the project. Susie Olczak, one of the artists involved with the project, said designs for the underpass, which connects the subway station with Great Western Road and Queen's Crescent, will incorporate images of the history of Woodlands while trying to create a friendly and attractive space. Speaking at a meeting of Woodlands and Park Community Council late last year, she said: "We are looking to create a colourful and bold design that is immediately impacting." Community involvement is key to the project and the students have set up a blog where members of the community can offer feedback on the plans.”

Written by Grant Collinson.

Study Five-

Permanent public artwork in the garden of a private house in England.

Service rates

A body of existing works are already for sale. For more information please contact me

By email-  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

By phone on 07833478364