📖 Overview
Susan Landauer is an American art historian and curator who has specialized in California art movements and artists of the 20th century. Her work has focused particularly on the San Francisco Bay Area's artistic developments from the post-war period onward.
Landauer served as Chief Curator at the San Jose Museum of Art and has authored several influential books on California art history. Her notable works include "The San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism" (1996) and "Elmer Bischoff: The Ethics of Paint" (2001), which have become important scholarly resources in the field.
She has contributed significantly to the understanding of California's abstract expressionist movement and its relationship to broader American art developments. Her research and exhibitions have helped document and preserve the artistic legacy of the San Francisco Bay Area's creative communities.
Through her curatorial work and publications, Landauer has helped establish the historical importance of West Coast artists who were often overlooked in broader narratives of American art history. Her scholarship continues to influence contemporary understanding of California's artistic heritage and its place in modern art history.
👀 Reviews
Art historians and curators value Landauer's detailed documentation of California art movements, particularly her research on the San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism.
What readers liked:
- Deep research and archival work that uncovers previously undocumented aspects of West Coast art history
- Clear writing style that makes complex art movements accessible
- Original interviews with artists providing firsthand accounts
- High-quality reproductions of artwork in her books
What readers disliked:
- Academic tone can be dense for general readers
- Some found coverage too focused on established artists rather than lesser-known figures
- High price points of her art books limit accessibility
Ratings:
- "The San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism" - 4.5/5 on Goodreads (12 ratings)
- "Elmer Bischoff: The Ethics of Paint" - 4.7/5 on Amazon (6 ratings)
Several academic reviewers note her work fills important gaps in documentation of California art. Art students appreciate her thorough citations and bibliographies for research purposes.
📚 Books by Susan Landauer
The San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism (1996) - A comprehensive examination of the post-war abstract expressionist movement in the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on artists such as Clyfford Still, Richard Diebenkorn, and David Park.
California Impressionism (1996) - A survey of California Impressionist paintings from 1890 to 1930, documenting the state's plein-air painting movement and its key artists.
Clyfford Still: The Buffalo and San Francisco Collections (1992) - A detailed catalog and analysis of Clyfford Still's works held in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art collections.
The Not-So-Still Life: A Century of California Painting and Sculpture (2003) - An exploration of how California artists interpreted and transformed still life traditions throughout the 20th century.
Of Their Time: Contemporary Bay Area Figurative Art (2006) - A study of the Bay Area Figurative Movement from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring artists like Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff, and Nathan Oliveira.
California Impressionism (1996) - A survey of California Impressionist paintings from 1890 to 1930, documenting the state's plein-air painting movement and its key artists.
Clyfford Still: The Buffalo and San Francisco Collections (1992) - A detailed catalog and analysis of Clyfford Still's works held in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art collections.
The Not-So-Still Life: A Century of California Painting and Sculpture (2003) - An exploration of how California artists interpreted and transformed still life traditions throughout the 20th century.
Of Their Time: Contemporary Bay Area Figurative Art (2006) - A study of the Bay Area Figurative Movement from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring artists like Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff, and Nathan Oliveira.
👥 Similar authors
Patricia Albers focuses on mid-century California art history through detailed biographical narratives. Her research methods and documentation of the Bay Area art scene share similarities with Landauer's approach.
Nancy Boas specializes in San Francisco's art communities and cultural shifts of the 20th century. Her work examines many of the same artistic circles and time periods as Landauer's research.
Peter Selz wrote extensively about California abstract expressionism and the development of West Coast modernism. His scholarly analysis of artistic movements parallels Landauer's historical scope.
Thomas Albright documented the San Francisco art scene through both criticism and historical writing. His coverage of Bay Area artists intersects with many subjects in Landauer's books.
Paul J. Karlstrom built comprehensive archives of California art history through oral histories and primary documents. His research methodology and focus on artist communities aligns with Landauer's historical approach.
Nancy Boas specializes in San Francisco's art communities and cultural shifts of the 20th century. Her work examines many of the same artistic circles and time periods as Landauer's research.
Peter Selz wrote extensively about California abstract expressionism and the development of West Coast modernism. His scholarly analysis of artistic movements parallels Landauer's historical scope.
Thomas Albright documented the San Francisco art scene through both criticism and historical writing. His coverage of Bay Area artists intersects with many subjects in Landauer's books.
Paul J. Karlstrom built comprehensive archives of California art history through oral histories and primary documents. His research methodology and focus on artist communities aligns with Landauer's historical approach.