Susanne Jonak’s paintings have both the fragility of distant memories and the immediacy of unforgettable personalities. Jonak brings figures, geographies, and moments together in muted oil paintings that resemble heirloom photographs. By capturing the distinct character of each scene she depicts, Jonak gives form to nostalgia and explores the reasons people continue to live and love. Jonak’s brush strokes vacillate between careful detail and looseness, striking a harmonious balance between representation and expression. She renders lively, recognizable moments, but the ephemeral, distant quality of her paintings makes the spirit of memories more important than the actuality.

Susanne Jonak strives to bring a feeling of relaxed contemplation to viewers, inspiring them to remember their own moments of happiness. Born in Vienna, Jonak studied Applied Arts at the Ecole d´Art et Design in Paris. Jonak most recently exhibited at the Vienna International Center in 2006 and at Gallery ArtPrima in 2007. She lives and works in Vienna.