Olga Sushchik is a local artist and LPC alumni who works in a variety of media. Born in Russia, Sushchik began her art education at fourteen when she was gifted a camera by her father. She took courses in drawing, watercolor, photography, and obtained her degree in Fashion. Then, after moving to the United States, Sushchik continued her art education at LPC, obtaining her certificate in Photography.

Sushchik’s photographic work has focused on revealing beauty through portraits. She writes, “I believe that a portrait can say who we are, and my goal is to show it.” Currently, her favorite subject is still life and flowers. “I enjoy painting in a naïve style which gives me a simple way of expressing myself. I do not like coping with reality, I can use a camera for that purpose. The naïve style shows more than just reality; it can turn on your imagination and your ideas about what I paint in my painting,” Sushchik explains.

Red Chair was inspired by Van Gogh’s artwork, especially his paintings of chairs, a recurring theme in his work. The symbolism of light is also an important theme for Sushchik which she shares with Van Gogh.

In Suschik’s piece, the book which lays atop the chair represents knowledge, a path to the light of enlightenment. Through the rich reds, greens, and yellows in this room, Sushchik creates a warm and inviting space for us to contemplate what this light means for each of us. What brings light into our life? How can knowledge help us foster this light? For life without this light, Sushchik states, “is limited, dark and devoid of bright color.”

Red Chair was acquired in 2022 by the Art on Campus Task Force as part of an ongoing effort to grow the LPC art collection, with a focus on local Bay area artists.

Credit: Nike Foundation Site Funds, CLPCCD’s Board of Trustees, Art on Campus Task Force