Susan Finer creates highly textured abstract pieces with new and reclaimed fabric, paper, and objects, thread, and acrylic paint. Her work bears the imprints of the manipulation of my materials: the ripping, unraveling, and layering of fabric; the stitching and knotting of threads; the printing, dripping, and scraping of paint. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Susan Finer was inspired by both the natural wonders of beach and woods and the artistic marvels of Manhattan’s museums and galleries. Early in life, Finer enjoyed drawing, building, photography, and embroidery. A trip to Mexico at twelve piqued her interest in the sculptural and textile traditions of Central and South America. Years later, while attending Northwestern University outside Chicago, Finer studied weaving with fiber artist Irene Suyeoka. After graduating, she moved to Boston, where she took classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Massachusetts School of Art and participated in many fiber art workshops. Finer’s work has been exhibited widely in galleries and museums throughout the country. She has won numerous awards and honors, including, most recently, Fiber Art Now’s Excellence in Fibers VIII. Locally, she is represented by FRANK Gallery in Carrboro, North Carolina.