Susan Sherrick on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Susan Sherrick. Check out our conversation below.

Susan, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Who are you learning from right now?
One of my art collectors. I can’t go into a lot of detail, but he’s a great human being and friend. I’ve learned a lot by listening to and watching him. We’ve worked together for 18 years.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an independent art curator and private art dealer. I was art historian Yve-Alain Bois’ assistant for 2 1/2 years when he served as the Chair of the Art and Architecture Department at Harvard University. After leaving Harvard, for 20 years I worked in the following commercial galleries: Marian Goodman, David Zwirner, Fraenkel Gallery, Howard Greenberg and 1301PE, along with owning my own gallery, Sherrick & Paul in Nashville, where I represented the Artistic Trust of William Eggleston. In February 2022 I launched an online platform/website called OneWork OneMonth that focuses on contemporary artists and their work. Artists that have been featured are: Banks Violette, Petra Cortright, William Downs, Louise Nevelson, Lynn Hershman Leeson, SUPERFLEX, Erica Mahinay, Marius Bercea, Gregory Rick, Kirsten Everberg, Achraf Touloub, David Hendren, Alex Yudzon, Jodi Hays, Paul Wackers, Rachel and Ivan Bridges, Damian Stamer, Ann-Marie James, Daniel Shea, Omari Booker, Katy Schimert, Paul Winstanley and Wendy White.

For over 20 years I’ve had the privilege to work with and for many of the greatest artists, collectors, curators, consultants and art dealers from all over the world. While I’m not presently working for one gallery, the website has allowed me to maintain these relationships along with developing new ones.

I have lived in Boston, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Nashville and Los Angeles. In the Fall of 2022 I was invited by the Richard Avedon Foundation to participate in the “Avedon 100” and “Iconic Avedon” exhibitions at Gagosian New York and Paris, May 2023 and January 2024 in celebration of the 100th birthday of Richard Avedon. Along with my online platform, I am a curator for multiple private art collections in the US, and currently based in Pennsylvania and New York.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents. They are now 79 and 81, but they have always been hardworking people. It’s a value they instilled in me.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I had to close my gallery in Nashville and I was devastated. I worked so hard to make it happen. I sold my home in Nashville and moved back to San Francisco with the intention of getting a job in Big Tech. An art world friend asked me why would I want to do that and invited me to help him with his gallery. The year I spent in San Francisco put me back together again and it restored my love of what I do.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Honesty, loyalty, hard work and sincerity.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oneworkonemonth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susansherrick_/

Image Credits
Marius Bercea “Morning at the Window”, 2023, oil on panel. Image: courtesy of the artist and Francois Ghebaly, Los Angeles and New York

Erica Mahinay, “Lunar Tryst”, 2023, Acrylic and raw pigment on half silk parachute, lead, aluminum and ostrich feathers. Image: Jeff Mclane

Banks Violette “throne/first and last and always (reasons to be cheerful)”, 2023. Installation image: Sky High Farm Art Biennial, “Trees Never End and House Never End”. Image: Susan Sherrick

Petra Cortright, Africa Map_anime+manga+background_arbeitsbl‰tter fernsehen, 2022. Image: courtesy of the artist

Portrait of Susan by Yve Assad