Artist Susan Lordi hand carves each original Willow Tree® sculpture. Using family and friends as models, Susan tries to capture a moment in time, or express a feeling. Pieces are cast from her original carving, and then individually painted by hand. Softly washed colors, carved and metal accents, and representative icons of nature mark Susan's work. "I try to keep the interpretation of Willow Tree open. I hope this makes it more personal, and allows the viewer to decide its meaning." Willow Tree was introduced in January 2000. The line has grown to encompass those sentiments that we most want to express. To our friends, to our family, to our teachers; to those near and dear, to those far away. The original inspiration for Willow Tree still holds true today: Willow Tree is an intimate, personal line of figurative sculptures representing qualities and sentiments that help us feel close to others, heal wounds, or treasure relationships. Susan Lordi carves each original piece with this thought in mind. Her figures continue to evolve as she identifies emotions so important for us to convey, and renders them in simple, pure gestures. These art forms beautifully express love, closeness, healing, courage, hope... all the emotions of a life well lived. The name Willow Tree was chosen to symbolize that which is gestural and beckoning. The figures are columnar in design, like a tree, and often carry natural objects or animals as metaphors for human virtues or qualities... rosemary for remembrance, a bird for healing, flowers for beauty. The sculptures are rendered so as to suggest elegance, simplicity, peace and serenity. Forms reveal their expressions through body gestures only... a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body. Emotions are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them personal and powerful. Willow Tree is an understated line that speaks in a compelling way.
Susan Lordi's art reflects our relationships with people and the world around us. Her keen observation of the human form is further inspired by ballet, modern dance, nature, and her personal experiences with family and friends. These influences are revealed in her Willow Tree® sculptures, from which emotion is communicated through gestures only. Besides her work in sculpture, Susan has always loved making art with cloth. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Textile Design, and her fiber art has been exhibited internationally. A monograph of her art textiles has been published in the Portfolio Collection by Telos Art Publishing and she is featured in the book Art Textiles of the World: USA. Susan maintains a studio in Kansas City, Missouri.