Susan D. White carving Chillagoe limestone, 1997

Sculptures

The contemporary artist Susan White produces sculptures in bronze, stone, wood, and mixed media assemblage. Her skills in carving, combined with a profound knowledge of the human figure, give her sculpture a depth of expression.

Susan White's subject matter is drawn from many sources, including human rights, the status of women, literature, music, and natural forms. She transforms idioms into three dimensions. Her mixed media sculptures are assemblages of everyday objects and fabrics centered around hands carved in wood. Humor and imagination make her figurative sculptures distinctive.

"Referring to the balance between gender and races, the bold sculpture It Cuts Both Ways suggests that 'any potential movement of either pair of hands would activate both pairs equally'. To realize the piece, she replaced the handles of garden shears with hands carved from salvaged huon pine (which can take up to 3,000 years to grow!) and modified found clothing for the sleeves..."

Sarah Tanguy, Curator, Hechinger Collection, Washington DC (2002)

Grid view
List view
69 Works to view
69 Works to view
  • Limpet Losing its Footing 2024
    assemblage: carved found sandstone, pebbles, cast base
    26 x 45 x 45 cm
    S-2024-1
  • On Fire 2022
    aka Flickering Flames
    assemblage: carved Australian red cedar, charcoal, matches, concrete base
    44 x 46 x 46 cm
    S-2022-2
  • Centenarian Sunset, Mum at 102 2022
    assemblage: carved pink Angaston marble (two interlocking stones), vintage cotton reel, needle and thread
    56 x 60 x 53 cm
    S-2022-1
  • In the Grip of Caffeine 2019
    assemblage: carved Gosford sandstone, cement platter, coffee beans
    42 x 44 x 44 cm
    S-2019-1
  • The Willy-Willy Spirit 2015
    (with heel kick)
    wax
    65 x 20 x 19 cm
    S-2015-1
  • Stretching the Imagination 2014
    (large outdoor version)
    bronze, granite base
    57 x 179 x 55 cm (bronze)
    S-2014-1
  • Dantian Gazing 2010
    aka Navel Gazing
    carved Debden sandstone (two stones)
    100 x 55 x 61 cm (incl. pedestal)
    S-2010-1
  • Energy Spiral 2009
    carved Gosford sandstone
    22 x 24.5 x 20.5 cm
    S-2009-1
  • Athletic Spirit 2008
    bronze
    26.5 x 30 x 11 cm (bronze), 5 x 14.5 (dia.) cm (base)
    S-2008-1
  • All I Want is My Two Front Teeth (Six-year-old Gaia) 2005
    clay
    22.5 x 20 x 18 cm
    S-2005-4
  • GM Bean Bud, no. 2 2005
    bronze
    7 x 6.5 x 7 cm
    S-2005-2
  • Stretching the Imagination 2005
    (version with life-size hands)
    bronze
    20 x 20 x 64 cm
    S-2005-1
  • Rock Star 2004
    carved Gosford sandstone
    24 x 21 x 9 cm
    S-2004-1
  • Lost for Words 2003
    assemblage: carved salvaged Huon pine, paint, wax, fabric, The Compact Oxford English Dictionary, A Gumbaynggir Language Dictionary, map of Aboriginal Languages of Australia
    94 x 85 x 38 cm
    S-2003-1
  • Little Goddess Gaia 2002, 2005
    bronze
    21.5 x 19.5 x 19.5 cm
    S-2002-1
  • Measure for Measure 2001-2003
    assemblage: carved salvaged Huon pine, wax, fabric, string wound on dowel, antique plumb-bob, vintage steel railway callipers, U-bracket
    180 x 61 x 56 cm
    S-2001-2
  • Reinventing the Wheel 2001
    assemblage: carved salvaged Huon pine, wax, dividers, fabric, vintage T-model Ford wheel and tyre, doorbell, drafting paper
    76 x 110 x 82 cm
    S-2001-1
  • Next-Door Neighbours 2000
    assemblage: carved salvaged Huon pine, paint, wax, sleeves, cedar door, rustic hardwood door, doorbell, doorknocker, oval door-plaque ‘2000’, antique walking stick, haversack, doormat, bullet casings
    202 x 103 x 98 cm
    S-2000-1
  • Cheeky Imy 1999
    aka Imy Putting Flower behind Ear
    bronze
    27 x 30 x 29 cm (bronze)
    S-1999-5
  • Stephen Listening 1999
    clay
    35 x 22 x 24 cm
    S-1999-4
  • Baby Gaia 1999, 2005
    bronze
    bronze: 19 x 19 x 16.5 cm (3.5 kg)
    clay model: 19.5 x 20 x 16.5 cm (3.5 kg)
    S-1999-3
  • GM Bean Bud, no. 1 1999
    bronze
    7 x 7 x 7.5 cm
    S-1999-2
  • Coming Out of One's Shell 1999
    bronze
    17 x 14 x 13 cm
    S-1999-1
  • It Cuts Both Ways 1998
    assemblage: carved salvaged Huon pine, fabric, shears, paint, wax
    46 x 119 x 10 cm
    S-1998-3
  • Soprano Singing in a Bach 'Passion' 1998
    aka The Soprano
    bronze
    40 x 19.5 x 15.5 cm (bronze), 20 x 7.5 x 7.5 cm (base)
    S-1998-2
  • The Dance of Eternity 1998
    aka Torso-less Performing a Möbius Strip
    bronze
    33 x 23.5 x 12 cm (bronze), 5 x 14.5 (dia) cm (base)
    S-1998-1
  • Giant Slugs in Love 1997
    carved Gosford sandstone
    36.5 x 28.5 x 16.5 cm
    S-1997-3
  • Head in the Clouds 1997
    carved Bungonia limestone
    45 x 33.5 x 58 cm
    S-1997-2
  • Germination 1997
    aka Sheela Seed-Pod
    bronze
    21 x 15 x 13 cm
    S-1997-1
  • To Cut Both Ways 1996
    chrome-plated bronze and stainless-steel scissors
    15 x 37 x 6 cm
    S-1996-2
  • Dante's Porter-Angel at the Gates of Purgatory 1996
    (with Hinged Wings and Keys)
    aka The Hinged-Winged Angel at the Gates of Purgatory
    bronze with strap-hinge wings, chrome- and gold-plated keys
    32.5 x 29.5 x 15 cm
    S-1996-2
  • The Spirit of the Willy-Willy Wind 1995
    bronze
    62.5 x 15 x 31 cm (bronze), 5 x 15 x 30 cm (base)
    S-1995-1
  • Why Not Lot? 1994
    carved Mooney Mooney sandstone
    99 x 42 x 46.5 cm
    S-1994-3
  • Young Amazon in Training 1994
    carved Gosford sandstone
    31 x 45 x 29 cm
    S-1994-2
  • Stretching the Imagination 1994
    (small version)
    bronze
    7 x 21 x 7 cm
    S-1994-1
  • Green Figurine 1993
    carved serpentinite
    2.7 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm
    S-1993-2
  • Beauty and the Beast 1993
    carved Mooney Mooney sandstone
    74 x 69 x 59 cm
    S-1993-1
  • Show of Hands 1992
    aka Gestures
    carved Gosford sandstone
    29 x 29 x 25.5 cm
    S-1992-2
  • Atlass / Ms Atlass 1992
    bronze
    32 x 15 x 15 cm
    S-1992-1
  • Seashore Shapes 1991
    carved Gosford sandstone (pair)
    5.5 x 9.5 x 6.5 cm (larger)
    7 x 5.5 x 8 cm (smaller)
    S-1991-3
  • Identical Opinions 1991
    aka Slugs in Love (miniature)
    carved Sydney sandstone
    8.5 x 6 x 6.5 cm
    S-1991-2
  • Paul with Twinkle in his Eye 1991
    clay (on armature)
    26 x 18 x 23 cm
    S-1991-1
  • Girl Skipping 1990–-1991
    carved Gosford sandstone
    64 x 46 x 40 cm
    S-1990-5
  • The Shy Egg 1990
    (carving)
    carved Huon pine
    14 x 8 x 8 cm
    S-1990-4
  • Slugs in Love 1990
    aka Hug
    carved Sydney sandstone
    18 x 14 x 13 cm
    S-1990-3
  • Mitzi McColl Explaining 1990
    clay (on armature)
    20 x 15 x 21 cm
    S-1990-2
  • Close-Knit Family 1990
    bronze
    17 x 23 x 17 cm
    S-1990-1
  • Larva 1989
    carved Gosford sandstone
    11 x 9.5 x 10 cm
    S-1989-6
  • Watch where you tread! 1989
    carved found sandstone
    6 x 13.5 x 10 cm
    S-1989-5
  • Yellow-Bellied Glider 1989
    aka Marsupial
    carved found sandstone
    7.5 x 25 x 10 cm
    S-1989-4
  • Woodworm, no. 2 1989
    carved red siris
    12 x 33 x 12 cm
    S-1989-3
  • The Shy Egg 1989
    bronze
    12 x 8 x 8 cm
    S-1989-2
  • Woman Oppressed 1989
    carved Gosford sandstone
    44 x 30 x 35 cm
    S-1989-1
  • Interstices 1988
    carved Gosford sandstone
    36 x 27 x 24 cm
    S-1988-5
  • Shunga II 1988
    bronze, resin
    10 x 24 x 10 cm (bronze and resin versions)
    S-1988-4
  • Shunga I 1988
    bronze
    11 x 17 x 11 cm
    S-1988-3
  • Yin and Yang / Symbiosis 1988
    carved Gosford sandstone
    25 x 25 x 21 cm
    S-1988-2
  • The Long Arm of the Law 1988
    aka Fitzgerald
    assemblage: carved wood, fabric and mixed media (wig, legal gown, coat sleeve, shirt sleeve, cufflink, legal papers tied with red tape, mounted on vertical plank on wall
    250 x 200 x 50 cm
    S-1988-1
  • Claustrophobia 1987
    carved New Guinea mahogany
    26.7 x 20.3 x 2.4 cm
    S-1987-4
  • Nude Male Among Earthworms 1987
    cement cast
    19 x 52.5 x 23 cm
    S-1987-3
  • Nude Woman Devouring Snake 1987
    plaster cast
    24.5 x 18 x 30.5 cm
    S-1987-2
  • Woodworm, no. 1 1987
    (designated 'no. 1' after carving second version)
    carved red siris
    13 x 26 x 10 cm
    S-1987-1
  • Man in the Moon: Awake and Asleep 1986
    carved brush-box, black and white conté, mounted on steel pin with base
    55 x 59 x 10 cm (inc. base)
    S-1986-2
  • Companion for Brancusi's 'Young Man' 1986
    carved Queensland maple
    20 x 45 x 10 cm
    S-1986-1
  • Pulling a Face (Mask) 1985
    carved New Guinea mahogany
    28 x 20 x 10 cm
    S-1985-3
  • Wall Mask 1985
    aka Mask: Head of Youth
    carved hoop pine
    20 x 10 x 10 cm
    S-1985-2
  • Eternal Pursuit 1985
    carved salvaged Huon pine
    21 x 9 x 8 cm
    S-1985-1
  • Blowflies and Maggots 1983
    (Soundboard Rose in Harpsichord)
    carved beech
    10 cm (dia.) x 0.6 cm
    S-1983-1
  • Horse's Head, for Grandpa 1951
    (childhood work)
    carved maple
    12 x 12 x 2.5 cm
    S-1951-1

Sculptures : 69 Works
Sculptures : 69 Works

» Back to previous page

[ Back to top ]

All works and content copyright - Permission to use Images