BIO
Suzanne Gainer grew up in small town in western Pennsylvania, and now resides in Massachusetts. She received her BA in Communication from St. Vincent College in Latrobe PA, and her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design in Providence RI. She is a professor and the Chair of the Communication Department at Worcester State University where she teaches courses in Photography, Digital Imaging, and Graphic Design.
Suzanne Gainer grew up in small town in western Pennsylvania, and now resides in Massachusetts. She received her BA in Communication from St. Vincent College in Latrobe PA, and her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design in Providence RI. She is a professor and the Chair of the Communication Department at Worcester State University where she teaches courses in Photography, Digital Imaging, and Graphic Design.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
The Twelfth Annual One: A Members Exhibition. 2024. ArtsWorcester, Worcester MA
30th Annual Members Exhibition. Juried by Mazie Harris. 2024. Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
Nostalgia International Exhibition. 2024. Milepiani Exhibition Space, Rome, Italy
Your Work Here: PRC Members Exhibition. 2023. VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Scaled Down: ArtsWorcester Members' Exhibition. 2023. ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA
A Different Stage: WSU Faculty Exhibition. 2023. Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery, Worcester MA
Portrait of the Self. Juried by Mark Kitsawaeng. 2023. SAGE Gallery, Bangkok Thailand
Picturing Plurality: SPE Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Conference Exhibition. 2023. Full Circle Gallery, Baltimore MD
7th National Competition & Exhibition. Juried by Letitia Huckaby. 2023. Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene TX
Atmosphere. Juried by Robin Hextrum. Women's Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter. 2023. D'Art Gallery, Denver CO
Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition. Juried by: Erin Becker, Rachel Passannante, Leslie Starobin. 2023.
Danforth Art Museum, Framingham MA
The Eleventh Annual One: A Members Exhibition. 2023. ArtsWorcester, Worcester MA
Spell: A RISD Alumni Exhibition. 2023. Third Sanctum Gallery, Warwick RI
The Twelfth Annual One: A Members Exhibition. 2024. ArtsWorcester, Worcester MA
30th Annual Members Exhibition. Juried by Mazie Harris. 2024. Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, MA
Nostalgia International Exhibition. 2024. Milepiani Exhibition Space, Rome, Italy
Your Work Here: PRC Members Exhibition. 2023. VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge, MA
Scaled Down: ArtsWorcester Members' Exhibition. 2023. ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA
A Different Stage: WSU Faculty Exhibition. 2023. Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery, Worcester MA
Portrait of the Self. Juried by Mark Kitsawaeng. 2023. SAGE Gallery, Bangkok Thailand
Picturing Plurality: SPE Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Conference Exhibition. 2023. Full Circle Gallery, Baltimore MD
7th National Competition & Exhibition. Juried by Letitia Huckaby. 2023. Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene TX
Atmosphere. Juried by Robin Hextrum. Women's Caucus for Art Colorado Chapter. 2023. D'Art Gallery, Denver CO
Danforth Annual Juried Exhibition. Juried by: Erin Becker, Rachel Passannante, Leslie Starobin. 2023.
Danforth Art Museum, Framingham MA
The Eleventh Annual One: A Members Exhibition. 2023. ArtsWorcester, Worcester MA
Spell: A RISD Alumni Exhibition. 2023. Third Sanctum Gallery, Warwick RI
RECENT ACTIVITIES
Book Cover Photo Illustration for The Good Deed by Helen Benedict. Red Hen Press. Publication date April, 2024
Artist in Residence at JOYA Arte + Ecologíca, Velez Blanco Spain. April-May, 2023
Book Cover Photo Illustration for The Good Deed by Helen Benedict. Red Hen Press. Publication date April, 2024
Artist in Residence at JOYA Arte + Ecologíca, Velez Blanco Spain. April-May, 2023
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Suzanne Gainer at Photo Nostrum. 2025. The Mediterranean House of Photography
Wonder: Photographic Works by Suzanne Gainer. 2016. Acton Memorial Library, Acton MA
Flora: Photographic Works by Suzanne Gainer. 2009. Gallery Seven, Maynard MA
Memories Wake: A Video Installation by Suzanne Gainer. 1994. The Red Eye Gallery, Providence RI
Suzanne Gainer at Photo Nostrum. 2025. The Mediterranean House of Photography
Wonder: Photographic Works by Suzanne Gainer. 2016. Acton Memorial Library, Acton MA
Flora: Photographic Works by Suzanne Gainer. 2009. Gallery Seven, Maynard MA
Memories Wake: A Video Installation by Suzanne Gainer. 1994. The Red Eye Gallery, Providence RI
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Worcester State University Faculty Exhibition, 2021. Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery, Worcester MA
Barcelona Foto Biennale, 2018. Gallery Nau Bostik, Barcelona Spain
The Art of Hope and Spirit, 2013. Concord Art Association, Concord MA
Center Yourself, 2011. Worcester Center for Crafts Krikorian Gallery, Worcester MA
Northeast Prize Show, 2010. Kathryn Shultz Gallery, Cambridge MA
Red, 2009. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Blue, 2004. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Vortex: A Juried Art Exhibit hosted by the Blue Man Group, 2003. The Charles Playhouse, Boston MA
Spectral Works: Crossley, Gainer & Holbrow, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Inch x Inch, 2002. Gibbs Gallery at the Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington MA
New England Photography & Sculpture Show, 2002. Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge MA
Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
New England Summer, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
PlaceScapes, 2001. The Stage Gallery, Merrick NY
Small Works National All Media Invitational, 2001. Period Gallery, Omaha NE
The Frances N. Roddy Open Competition, 2001. Concord Art Association, Concord MA
Viewpoints Invitational Exhibition, 2000. ArtSpaces, California MD
74th Annual International Competition: Photography, 2000. The Print Center, Philadelphia PA
Photography Now, 2000. South Shore Art Center, Cohasset MA
Salon 2000, 2000. Limner Gallery, New York NY
By the Palette, For the Palate, 2000. Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis MN
Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Alumni Show, 2000. The Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence RI
Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Alumni Show, 1999. Market House Gallery, Providence RI
20th Annual Parfitt Photography Exhibition, 1999. Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, Portsmouth NH
Family Trauma, 1996. The Knitting Factory, New York NY
The New England Film and Video Festival, 1996. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA
The Albany International Short Film Festival, 1996. Lewis A. Swyer Theatre, Albany NY
Suzanne Gainer, Lisa Abendroth & Torrance York: Work in Video, 1994. Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence RI
Worcester State University Faculty Exhibition, 2021. Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery, Worcester MA
Barcelona Foto Biennale, 2018. Gallery Nau Bostik, Barcelona Spain
The Art of Hope and Spirit, 2013. Concord Art Association, Concord MA
Center Yourself, 2011. Worcester Center for Crafts Krikorian Gallery, Worcester MA
Northeast Prize Show, 2010. Kathryn Shultz Gallery, Cambridge MA
Red, 2009. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Blue, 2004. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Vortex: A Juried Art Exhibit hosted by the Blue Man Group, 2003. The Charles Playhouse, Boston MA
Spectral Works: Crossley, Gainer & Holbrow, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
Inch x Inch, 2002. Gibbs Gallery at the Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington MA
New England Photography & Sculpture Show, 2002. Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge MA
Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
New England Summer, 2002. University Place Gallery, Cambridge MA
PlaceScapes, 2001. The Stage Gallery, Merrick NY
Small Works National All Media Invitational, 2001. Period Gallery, Omaha NE
The Frances N. Roddy Open Competition, 2001. Concord Art Association, Concord MA
Viewpoints Invitational Exhibition, 2000. ArtSpaces, California MD
74th Annual International Competition: Photography, 2000. The Print Center, Philadelphia PA
Photography Now, 2000. South Shore Art Center, Cohasset MA
Salon 2000, 2000. Limner Gallery, New York NY
By the Palette, For the Palate, 2000. Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis MN
Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Alumni Show, 2000. The Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence RI
Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Alumni Show, 1999. Market House Gallery, Providence RI
20th Annual Parfitt Photography Exhibition, 1999. Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, Portsmouth NH
Family Trauma, 1996. The Knitting Factory, New York NY
The New England Film and Video Festival, 1996. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA
The Albany International Short Film Festival, 1996. Lewis A. Swyer Theatre, Albany NY
Suzanne Gainer, Lisa Abendroth & Torrance York: Work in Video, 1994. Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence RI
AWARDS & GRANTS
Worcester State Foundation Faculty Research Grant, 2023. Worcester MA
11th Pollox Award for Digital Photography Manipulation & Collage, 2018. The Photography Gala Awards
Worcester Art Museum Partnership Planning Grant, 2017. Worcester MA
Faculty Leader in Global and Cultural Experiences Award, 2017. Worcester State University
Art Of Science Learning Fellow, Worcester Incubator, 2014
Published Finalist, 2008. National Wildlife Refuge Photography Contest
Director’s Choice Award, 2004. Blue, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge MA
Grand Prize Winner, 2003. Vortex, The Blue Man Group, Charles Playhouse, Boston MA
Artist in Residence Fellowship, 1999 and 2000. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
The DuArt Outstanding Independent Video Award, 1996. New England Film/Video Festival, Boston
The TC Coley Award for Excellence in Photography, 1993. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence
Graduate Student Award of Excellence, 1993. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
Worcester State Foundation Faculty Research Grant, 2023. Worcester MA
11th Pollox Award for Digital Photography Manipulation & Collage, 2018. The Photography Gala Awards
Worcester Art Museum Partnership Planning Grant, 2017. Worcester MA
Faculty Leader in Global and Cultural Experiences Award, 2017. Worcester State University
Art Of Science Learning Fellow, Worcester Incubator, 2014
Published Finalist, 2008. National Wildlife Refuge Photography Contest
Director’s Choice Award, 2004. Blue, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge MA
Grand Prize Winner, 2003. Vortex, The Blue Man Group, Charles Playhouse, Boston MA
Artist in Residence Fellowship, 1999 and 2000. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
The DuArt Outstanding Independent Video Award, 1996. New England Film/Video Festival, Boston
The TC Coley Award for Excellence in Photography, 1993. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence
Graduate Student Award of Excellence, 1993. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI