Susan Johnson Beck was born July 1, 1943. She is currently a resident of Salt Lake City. Beck is a mixed-media artist, painter, and educator. She studied at the University of Utah where she earned her B.A. in 1965, and her M.F.A. in 1968. She also studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts.

Teaching experiences include the University of Utah 1969-present, Utah State 2001-present, S.L.A.C. 1969-70, Artist in Education Program of Lollapalooza (a children's art program), Salt Lake City Arts Council, and some private instruction. Beck is an excellent teacher with extensive training in traditional painting technique. Described as a portrait specialist in the mid-1970's, she was painting a series of detailed still-life objects by the end of the decade. Yet her ideas have drawn her increasingly toward the use of mixed media and a wider range of expressive forms in more recent years.

Her work has been shown at the Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake Arts Center Faculty Exhibition, Utah Biennials, Utah Arts Council shows, The Springville Museum of Art, Weber State College, and at S.L.A.C. with Bonnie Susec and Meredith Moench Summer 1997. Phillips Gallery handles her work.

Biographical information on this page was adapted from Artists of Utah.

Susan Johnson Beck (1943-), of Salt Lake City, is a mixed-media artist, painter, and educator. She studied at the University of Utah (B.A., 1965; M.F.A., 1968) and the California College of Arts and Crafts. Her work has been shown at the Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City; Salt Lake Arts Center Faculty Exhibition; Utah Biennials; Utah Arts Council shows; Springville Museum of Art; Weber State College; S.L.A.C. with Bonnie Susec and Meredith Moench (Summer 1997)etc. Teaching experiences include University of Utah (1969-); S.L.A.C. (1969-70); Artist in Education Program of Lollapalooza (a children's art program); Salt Lake City Arts Council; private instruction; etc. Phillips Gallery handles her work. Beck is an excellent teacher with extensive training in traditional painting technique. Described as a portrait specialist in the mid-1970's, she was painting a series of detailed still-life objects by the end of the decade. Yet her ideas have drawn her increasingly toward the use of mixed media and a wider range of expressive forms in more recent years. Her work shown at the Salt Lake Art Center (Summer 1997) was her best yet, especially in terms of the visual ideas involved.

Professional Activities 
1999-2003 - Board of Trustees of the Salt Lake Art Center 
1996-2003 - Visual Arts Committee of Utah Arts Council 
1994-present - Art teacher at Rowland Hall 
2001- present - Teacher for Utah State University at Tooele Campus 

Awards 
1995 - Utah Artist Fellowship Award Finalist, Salt Lake Art Center 
1993 - Utah Women's Art Project (juried) National Museum of Women in Arts, Washington, D.C. 
1987 - Utah Women - Utah Museum of Fine Arts - selected for traveling exhibit (award) 
1983 - Utah Women - Utah Museum of Fine Arts - selected for traveling exhibit (award) 
1982 - Utah Annual - Utah Museum of Fine Arts - (award) 
1978 - Utah Annual Springville Museum of Art (award) 
1969 - Utah Annual - Utah Museum of Fine Arts - (award) 

Biography courtesy the artist.

Newspaper Articles

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, October 25, 1992.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, May 20, 1990.

"Canvas Dreams Utah 's Best High-School Artists Score Slam Dunk in Springville Teen Artists Slam Dunk In Springville." The Salt Lake Tribune, March 10, 1996.

"Coming Up: Visual Arts." The Salt Lake Tribune, July 13, 1997.

"Galleries Herald 1990 with News Exhibits." The Deseret News, January 14, 1990.

"Gallery to show Figurative Paintings in June." The Deseret News, May 31, 1991.

"New Talent is Up Against the Wall – With Flair." The Deseret News, November 8, 1992.

"Outrage and Admiration for 'Out of the Land'" The Salt Lake Tribune, January 31, 1993.

"Religious Images Abound in Works by Utah Artists." The Salt Lake Tribune, January 22, 1995.

"School Notes." The Salt Lake Tribune, October 15, 1995.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, March 9, 2003.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, February 2, 2003.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, November 12, 2000.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, November 14, 1999.

"Tangled Web' Captures Everyday Experience." The Salt Lake Tribune, March 7, 2003.

"Three women -- Three Visions; Exhibit Features Paintings that are Challenging, Playful, Disturbing; Three Women, Three Visions At Art Center." The Salt Lake Tribune, August 10, 1997.

"Utah Marquee: Visual Arts." The Salt Lake Tribune, November 12, 1999.

"Utahns with Roots in Spiritual Movement." The Salt Lake Tribune, December 25, 1994.

"Work of 7 Local Artists Vibrates with Meaning." The Deseret News, June 23, 1991.

"Works on Paper' Shows Dimension of Many Media." The Deseret News, July 15, 1990.

Books

Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. Artists of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999.

Swanson, Vern G., Robert S. Olpin, and William C. Seifrit. Utah Painting and Sculpture. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, l997.