Suzy Birstein has gained recognition for her colourful tableware and sculpture through exhibitions and commissions. Her work has had exposure at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto, National Biennale of Ceramics in Trois Rivieres Quebec, Whatcom County Museum in Washington State, the Kentucky Gallery of Art and Design in Louisville, Kentucky, The Clay Studio of Missoula, The Design Consortium in Cincinnati and Tajimi, Japan. Locally she has had one-person exhibitions at the Surrey Art Gallery, Vancouver Community Arts Council, the Gallery of BC Ceramics, The Seymour Art Gallery as well as numerous group shows. She has participated in the annual 'Artists in our Midst' open studios show since its inception in 1992, and co-ordinated this popular event for twelve years. Public restaurant commissions include Tomato Cafe ( 1993-Present), Lingo's Cyberbistro ( 1997-2002) and Notte's Bon Ton Patisserie ( 1991 to Present), all of which serve specialized food on her featured tableware as well as exhibit and sell work continously. Suzy's tableware has been featured on TV and film, including "Diane Clement Cooks" on BCTV, "Urban Rush", Global TV News, and Hong Kong TVB, and "That's Clever", HGTV America.


Most recently, Suzy was honoured with the request to be the only artist and Canadian included in "Everybody wins at the Oscars" gift baskets, given to nominees in the top categories for 2008 Academy Awards! Some limited edition "Motion Pitchers" were exhibited during "My DeLovely Fever" alongside nine life size Muses, one mythical animal and tap dance film!   press release The few remaining "Motion Pitchers" are available through Jonathon's. more

Birstein's influences are strongly rooted in the indigenous cultures of Spanish America, Indo-Asia, and Africa. She graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design with an honours diploma in ceramics and primitive art. Since then she has expanded her iconography and techniques through numerous workshops in clay, papier maché, painting, monotypes, architectural mosaics and knitwear design. A deep love for world music, jazz and opera has inspired her forms and colours. Her travel experiences have further developed her ideas.

Birstein works and teaches from her garden studio in Kitsilano. She participates in the artist-in-residence program in public and private schools, and has been teaching at pArts Umbrella since 1990. Birstein's work has been covered in several publications and catalogues including: the Australian international magazine "Ceramics Art and Perception #63", the cover of American Clay Times Magazine, Vol 11 #5, "500 Animals in Clay", "Great Work - An Overview of Contemporary BC Artists", "Made of Clay - Ceramics of British Columbia", "The Art of Splash", the Vancouver Sun, Louisville, Kentucky's Courier Journal, Jewish Western Bulletin and Vanguard Magazine. more

Her work is available at Jonathon's in London, Ontario and at Suzy's Kitsilano Garden Studio, by appointment.


For more information regarding acquisitions, commissions, or current venues, please refer to the CONTACT page.