Suprina
“I was physically born in America. In regards to my ethnic background, I am as American as they get- a little of this, a little of that. Slavic/German/Irish/Jewish/Lutheran are what I know of but I'm sure other blood was picked up along the way. So there’s the DNA.”
“My interests lay in creating carnival-like narratives themed around our politics, our environment and our societal trends. I strive, using any material I deem worthy, to broadcast loudly my intent. Allocating, modeling, casting, photography and video are some of the processes I use.
I’m not strong or courageous, but I don’t mind climbing out on a limb. In some strange way I’m comfortable there.
I celebrate us, and our absurdity. We are beautiful, horrid, tragic, and profoundly funny.”
Biography
Suprina studied sculpture at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia but gained the bulk of her knowledge of her craft from working in the field of promotional, prop making. Her clients included Annie Leibovitz, Apple Computer, Bloomingdales, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After 9/11, having lived in the neighborhood at the time, Suprina decided she would focus solely on her own artworks, which discuss environmental, social and political issues.
In 2012 she was selected to create an interactive public sculpture on Governors Island. The sculpture titled ‘Circle of Intention’ was a 14’ high x 12’ diameter circle inspired by a Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Viewers walked inside the sculpture and read 3 sentences about peace, respect, and love. Handwritten in 32 languages all spoken in New York City. Including Mohawk and Braille.
In 2013 she was awarded solo sculptor in a group show in Morristown Court House Atrium that later moved to Gallery Aferro in Newark. She exhibited 32 sculptures, she was also voted 'best portfolio' by Pro Arts, in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Early 2015 Suprina was awarded a grant by the Puffin Foundation and also in spring of 2016 by LMCC to complete a public sculpture titled The DNA Totem that was installed in March 2016 in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem. There was also a series of performance art done on site from April to Sept - Titled “Trash Talks”. The DNA Totem traveled to Rye Arts Center, Rye NY 2016- 2017. The Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck, NY 2017, Sculpture for Leonia, NJ 2019, Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY 2020-23, Hudson Valley Discovery Museum (Nov 2023-25)
In the fall of 2016 Suprina turned 70 running feet of vacant retail window space into a huge art installation on Market Street in Downtown Newark, N.J. Affiliated with Gallery Aferro and Activate Market Street. The title, ‘Becoming “Them”, was a fantasy narrative about our relationship to our Tech Devices’. Part of this installation included a 22’ long wall made from Detritus, that is now owned by Harlem JCC.
Fall 2017 Suprina moved to Poughkeepsie. In the few short years there she has been awarded Decentralized Individual and Community grants in 2021, Dutchess County Executive’s Arts Award for ART IN PUBLIC PLACES 2021, a Jumpstart grant and another Puffin Foundation grant in 2022. Suprina also collaborated with Poet Gold on a Video performance titled Say Their Names.
Currently, Suprina has opened a small gallery (CONVEY/ER/OR Feb 2023) with her work space in the back at 299 Main St, Poughkeepsie. She shows environmental, political and social work of hers and other artists.
Suprina will have a solo exhibition at Jane Street Art Space, Saugerties May 2024. She will be installing her largest to date ‘Forest’, an interactive space made from our throwaways.