Susan Trachman was born in 1961 in the Rancho Park section of Los Angeles. She loved art from an early age and remembers fondly her favorite family outings, visiting the LACMA art museum on Sundays with her parents. Susan always loved doing art and thanks to her mother she still has the self-portrait she created in Kindergarten. She also loved helping her father, an engineer and hobbyist photographer, work in the darkroom. His influence is seen in many of her pieces.
After graduating from UCLA in 1984 with a BA in Design, Susan expressed her creativity by working as an Interior Designer doing commercial and residential design for Charles Kober and Associates, PHH Walker, Benton Park Candreva and eventually at her own firm.
Susan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June of 1988 and began stockpiling materials from her various treatments almost immediately. It was her intent to do something with these materials someday. Susan’s two sons were born in 1994 and 1997 and she decided in 1996 to dedicate her energy to being a full time mom. “Someday” came in approximately 2004, when between carpool runs, she started conceptualizing her first piece.
As Susan’s MS progressed and her need for “tools” such as a cane, walker and now a wheelchair, were required, her focus remained on what she could do, not on what she could not do. This positive outlook is evident in all of her pieces.
In Susan’s words, “Having MS, like life itself is unpredictable . . . we all have something . . . and dwelling on the things that you have lost or can’t control does not change what is or what will be . . . but making something of what you have is all that you can do”. Her art, beautiful and thought provoking, is a testament to this philosophy and is an inspiration to all who struggle with the various challenges that life doles out.
Susan has two sons and a loving, supportive husband. She continues to reside in Los Angeles.
As the years go by her MS is always present but,, she continues stockpiling her medication paraphernalia, and working on her next creation.
After graduating from UCLA in 1984 with a BA in Design, Susan expressed her creativity by working as an Interior Designer doing commercial and residential design for Charles Kober and Associates, PHH Walker, Benton Park Candreva and eventually at her own firm.
Susan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June of 1988 and began stockpiling materials from her various treatments almost immediately. It was her intent to do something with these materials someday. Susan’s two sons were born in 1994 and 1997 and she decided in 1996 to dedicate her energy to being a full time mom. “Someday” came in approximately 2004, when between carpool runs, she started conceptualizing her first piece.
As Susan’s MS progressed and her need for “tools” such as a cane, walker and now a wheelchair, were required, her focus remained on what she could do, not on what she could not do. This positive outlook is evident in all of her pieces.
In Susan’s words, “Having MS, like life itself is unpredictable . . . we all have something . . . and dwelling on the things that you have lost or can’t control does not change what is or what will be . . . but making something of what you have is all that you can do”. Her art, beautiful and thought provoking, is a testament to this philosophy and is an inspiration to all who struggle with the various challenges that life doles out.
Susan has two sons and a loving, supportive husband. She continues to reside in Los Angeles.
As the years go by her MS is always present but,, she continues stockpiling her medication paraphernalia, and working on her next creation.