Suzy Platt has established herself as a leading figure in New Zealand portraiture with her distinctive whimsical and emotionally engaging style. Often depicting young women, Platt’s work reveals more than just the subject matter – captivating viewers with intricate detail and a playful aesthetic.
Based in Dunedin, Suzy is a largely self-taught artist who paints prolifically. Her early works explored the ideas and techniques of Picasso, Modigliani and Chagall; she has since also drawn inspiration from notable contemporary Australian artists such as Russell Drysdale and Charles Blackman.
Her work is globally celebrated for its whimsical charm and distinctive eye portrayals. Using watercolour and ink she achieves an ethereal quality with soft transitions and subtle colour variations, while her sophisticated technique ensures a fluid, dynamic representation of her subjects.
Suzy’s pieces all exhibit a beautiful feel for balance: in the breathtaking use of light and shadow, in the use of lustrous colour, and in the tension between strong masses and delicate lines. Emerging themes that recur through her work are wide eyed young girls caught in their inner domestic world, predominantly depicted as harlequins and pierrots: the innocent lone children in an elusive story.
Represented in New Zealand by Artbay Gallery in Queenstown, her work has been exhibited around the globe, including a notable inclusion in an art show depicting fashion collections from Paris Fashion Week in London in 2017. Suzy has also been invited to showcase her work at Nick Knight’s fashion show at SHOWstudio in London, and was featured as a guest illustrator of runway highlights at New Fashion Week 2020.
Find out more about Suzy Platt and her work at artbay.co.nz
