When I Have Wings to Fly

Exhibition statement by Janice Cotter

Suzy Birstein's current exhibition speaks to tapping into your imagination and being at one with your material, your spirit, and your world. The work was informed by the life and art of Frida Kahlo, merged with intersecting influences from Birstein's personal experiences and memories of her mother's life. She views Frida as a symbol of empowerment and strength, a person who takes something that is tragic and transcends and transforms it through her notion of beauty.


Moved by Frida Kahlo's story and infamous words, "Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" Birstein began exploring how the historical figure relates to her history by turning to art to heal her spirit. Even when Frida was constrained by physical and emotional difficulties, she found ways to reach into her creative self and soar. Motivated by these concepts, Birstein created Frida-inspired works using contemporary techniques of clay, oil, collage, and integrating personal objects.


"When I Have Wings to Fly" combines Birstein's artworks in varying times of her life to illustrate an evolving relationship between her images, materials and poetic imagination. It also a continuation of her series of clay portraiture "Ladies Not Waiting," derived from the Baroque masterpiece Las Meninas, [Ladies-In-Waiting) by Diego Velazquez.


In addition, Birstein incorporates pieces from her "Tsipora" self portrait series. Tsipora, her Hebrew name, means 'bird' or 'taking flight'. Like the Frida-inspired works, the birds in this series symbolize a freedom of spirit, but also of nesting; taking flight, but also having a place to land.


Birstein invites the viewer to converse with the intertwined stories of herself, her mother, Frida Kah lo and other historical figures to embody an appreciation of resilience, resourcefulness and beauty.


"Everything about Frida is about her art and her life as one, as an expression of creativity." Birstein says, "That, I took as a model for what my life should be."


Frida in Violet
2020
Oil, cold wax, collage, frame
32 x 25 inches

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With Wings to Fly...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils, wax
26 x 15 x 15 inches
PURCHASE
$4500.00
Los Fridos
2020
Oil on canvas
60 x 36 inches

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Upon a Bed of Blue Roses We Embrace...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils, wax
21 x 12 x 12 inches
PURCHASE
$3400.00
The Eye of the Beholder
2019
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches
PURCHASE
$1400.00
This Is How Life Is...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, lipstick, papier-mâché
27 x 11 x 10 inches
PURCHASE
$3000.00
Apsara Frida
2019
Oil on canvas
40 x 30 inches
PURCHASE
$2600.00
The Music of the Universe Surrounds Us...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, metal, oils, wax
28 x 10 x 10 inches
PURCHASE
$4500.00
Taming the Wild Nestled to a Rose...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils, wax
24 x 13 x 14 inches
PURCHASE
$3000.00
She Was Like a Walking Flower Centred by a Rod of Steel...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, metal pill box, oils, wax
27 x 14 x 11 inches
PURCHASE
$3400.00
Outside Time the Magic...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils, wax
24 x 11 x 12 inches
PURCHASE
$3400.00
Once Upon a Treble Clef...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, perfume bottle, metal brush
17 x 9 x 9 inches

Sold

Mi Diego, Ya No Estoy Sola...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, metal
20 x 16 x 12 inches
PURCHASE
$3400.00
I'm Going With Myself...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils, wax, kiln cones brush
18 x 10 x 10 inches
PURCHASE
$3000.00
Armoured Amour...after Frida Khalo
2021
Fired ceramic, oils
23 x 12 x 12 inches
PURCHASE
$3000.00