Suzanne Lustig

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Suzanne Lustig studied graphic design at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague before finding her calling as an artist, gradually allowing illustrations to take centre stage in her work.

Relocating to New Zealand in 2014, the move to the Land of the Long White Cloud was a manifestation of her adventurous spirit, and her desire to explore and discover new dimensions is not only evident in her personal life but also deeply ingrained in her artistic approach.

Nature, a perpetual muse, plays a pivotal role in Suzanne’s creations. New Zealand’s breath-taking landscapes are an endless source of inspiration, and her frequent hikes through hobbit-like forests and foraging adventures provide a rich source of material. 

Mushroom Muses

Mushrooms, with their diverse forms and cultural significance, feature prominently, weaving elements of magic and whimsy into her works. Aside from mycology, Suzanne is captivated by silhouette portraits. The deliberate absence of detailed features invites viewers to engage their imaginations, creating narratives around the shadowy figures.

Drawing inspiration from Cobra, the European avant-garde artistic movement, she embraces spontaneity, experimentation and a rejection of formal constraints. Working with materials like Indian ink and oil pastels, their resistance to manipulation forces her to negotiate, adapt and discover unexpected paths, resulting in artworks that possess depth and texture in a diverse range of hues that create a dynamic visual expression.