Cynthia Sumner
Through abstract composition my work explores the delicate balance of ecosystems, the enduring resilience of nature and our interconnection with it all. I paint to have a sense of being part of something larger than myself.
Employing texture, form, and color through various media, such as paint, pigments, wax, ink and paper, I often build up multiple layers of medium in order to excavate the surfaces to reveal meaning. Painting mostly with my hands and squeegees rather than brushes, a tactile relationship allows the inherent properties of the mediums to guide my process and contribute to the emergent imagery. The natural world, in it’s constant state regeneration reminds us of aspects of our own humanity, interdependent and ever striving to evolve.
I graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in sculpture, and have exhibited work on both the East and West Coasts, as well as in Louisiana. My artistic journey began as a slightly feral child and has evolved through an experimentation with materials and deep a curiosity. While living in New Orleans, I developed a thriving children’s art program using recycled materials and hosted grant-funded art workshops for teachers. There, I worked on site-specific installations and collaborative projects before returning to California and shifting towards two-dimensional work.
In addition to my artistic pursuits, I stay actively engaged with the local arts community through volunteering and mentoring. I’ve previously worked as an arts educator for various organizations both in New Orleans and the Bay Area and founded a co-working artist space, Art Scene Studio on the Mendocino Coast. Fostering creativity and community is an extension of my belief in our interconnection and that each one of us matters.

