The Awards Collective was created to feature the works of artists who have received either a Juror’s Award or Director’s Award in ASG’s Online exhibitions. Susan Isaacson’s image Izzy Stardust received the Directors’ Award in the photographic mysticism exhibition juried by Michael Behlen. Susan’s exhibition At Silver Lake is discussed in this GalleryTalk.
Artist Statement
“Much is lost in the act of remembering. By exploring personal photographic archives, I reclaim the sense of wonder and curiosity experienced in my youth, while idling along the shores of our family lake home or discovering new terrain. In this series, I have re-photographed vintage Kodachrome slides, inviting refracted light, environmental intrusions, and focal plane manipulations to transform the images.
There is an unpredictable magic in the recorded flecks of errant light. They connect me to an imagined world and the enduring energy of those held dear who are no longer here. During the period of making this work, both my brothers lost their battles with terminal illness. Thus, my act of recollection has been tinged with the perspective of loss and eroded by the passage of time. This collection holds layers of familial love, connection to place, and remembrance.”
Susan Isaacson
September, 2026
Bio
Susan Isaacson is a photographic artist exploring themes of time, memory, and the emotional topography of life transitions. She is drawn to the natural landscape to connect with and represent her inner world. Her work is influenced by studies of mindfulness and Judaism, with its emphasis on the sanctification of time.
Following a twenty-year career in strategic marketing at a Fortune 100 company, Isaacson established a dedicated photography practice in Chicago, Illinois and Laguna Beach, California. Her work has been included in group exhibitions throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Isaacson is represented by Alta Vista Arts and Perspective Gallery in Evanston IL, where she has mounted four solo exhibitions and co-curated three member exhibitions. Her series, We Share The Same Breath, was selected as a 2023 Photolucida Critical Mass Finalist and was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 19th Annual Julia Margaret Cameron awards. Her series, At Silver Lake, was recognized as a 2024 Critical Mass Finalist. Isaacson’s work has been featured in Black + White Photography (UK), SHOTS Magazine, Photo Trouvee Magazine, LENSCRATCH, NewCity Art and All About Photo. Her work is held in private collections within the United States.
website: susanisaacsonphotography.com
instagram: @sbisaacson