Today's forced seclusion and wake up call to stay healthy has once again granted me the luxury of time to ponder what really matters. The clarity that our seclusion affords is a gift and it motivates me to renew my pledge to truly appreciate, exalt, protect and preserve the beauty of nature through my art in every way I can.

This is why I paint.

Artist Susan Swartz was honored to be invited as one of five exhibiting visual artists to participate in the groundbreaking kick off of the new Melides Art Pavilion designed by James Waterworth, SOHO House's former European Design Director. The exclusive invite only launch took place on May 18 to coincide with Lisbon's prestigious annual contemporary Art Fair, ARCO 2019 which took place May 15 - 19. ARCO boasts an interesting mix of Portuguese and international artists drawing leaders in the European art world, writers, photographers and critics there to take part.

Cultural exchange is the balm for today’s tense political climate, and art is the universal language that can initiate the dialogue. In today’s tense political climate, the most important thing to support is cultural exchange. Art, as US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman affirms, “transcends us all. It transcends borders, boundaries.” Susan Swartz’s exhibition “Personal Path,” which opened Tuesday, November 28th at the State Russian Museum, transcends boundaries, creating a dialogue between the United States and Russia. For the first time in five years an American artist is exhibiting work at a Russian museum.

The popularity of art fairs has grown in the past decade. These venues bring together galleries, artists, and collectors to learn about artists from around the world and to recognize and contemplate the importance of art in society. Many fairs focus on certain themes and will often feature panels and conversations among leaders involved in all aspects of the art world.

On Wednesday evening, May 20th, an exhibition of paintings by Susan Swartz, opened at the Ludwig Museum in Koblenz, Germany. This solo exhibition entitled, Personal Path, features more than 80 works of art spanning various stages of her career. Works exhibited encompass many styles, showcasing Swartz’s evolution as an artist from a realist painter to an abstract painter. The exhibition will be on view through August 2, 2015.

There is something unique about Salzburg. Like many European cities, it is rich with history and alive with the hum of modern technology and life. Like so many other cities, the stones of its churches, palaces, schools and homes tell stories centuries old. Yet there is something distinct about Salzburg. It is a city of music, dance and artistic expression in immeasurable and innumerable ways.

Several years ago, while waiting for the paint to dry on her impressionist work, Susan began experimenting with the abstract. In the time since, when Susan stands in front of a new canvas with a brush in hand, what has increasingly emerged are true abstracts, bold and full of impact. One of her recent works, the 24×30 Trees of Gold, is being featured in ABSTRACT an exhibition at London’s revered Belgravia Gallery.

Talk about excess baggage charges — Susan and lots of her recent paintings traveled to New York City this week for a very special event. A collection of Susan’s available paintings opens today at The Carlyle Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Exhibited alongside estate silver specialist, The Silver Fund, and luxury jeweler, YVEL, Susan’s work includes several pieces from her recent solo exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, as well as a selection of brand new paintings.