SUSAN RUSSELL HALL

Artist | Medical Illustrator | Educator

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art is my visual language, bringing hope, discovery, compassion, and empowerment to the viewer.

PAINTER

First solo exhibition in 1977 at the University of Washington Women’s Cultural Center, followed by over 100 group and solo exhibitions, and still on-going.

MEDICAL ARTIST

I have documented over 6,500 congenital heart surgeries from life in the operating room since 1979. Illustrations have been published in more than 30 medical books and journals; featured in educational and professional presentations locally, nationally, and internationally.

EXHIBITIONS & PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

2026

• Art Out of the Box, Encaustic Art Institute: INSPIRATION, Juried Exhibition
• Lake Light, Tacoma Art Museum, Permanent Collection
• Lake Light, International Encaustic Artists: Wax Fusion Anthology, Volume 1: The Weight of Light – Permanent International & Collective Reference Juried Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2025

• Morning Swim, Museum of Glass: Red Hot Gala, Live Auction Item
• International Encaustic Artists: Wax Fusion, pls 20-39, Spring
• ORCA: A Literary Journal: The Literary Issue Number 20, Absence & Anticipation, Cover & pgs 2-7, Spring
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2024

• Museum of Glass: Earthlings and Extraterrestrials: 20 Years of Kids Design Glass Exhibition
• Encaustic Art Institute: Wax-On Wax-In, Juried Exhibition, NM
• Friesen Solo Gallery: Representation 
• International Encaustic Artists: Changing the Narrative, Juried Selection, Pacific Art League Gallery, CA
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2023

• A Pool of Reflection: Symphony Tacoma Gala Auction Item: A Summer Evening of Art, Music, and Gardens
• Friesen+Lantz Gallery: Winter Arrivals, Exhibition, ID
• At the End of the Day: Lakewood Rotary Wine & Beer Festival Invitation
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2022

• Cycle of Life: Lakewood City Hall Exhibition
• Friesen+Lantz Gallery: Fall Arrivals, Exhibition, ID
• Sun Valley Property News: Friesen+Lantz Fine Art Gallery, pg. 179, ID
• Symphony Tacoma: Eternal Light & Mozart’s Requiem: A Community Project for Local Youth, Video
• Sepia Path: Symphony Tacoma Gala & Auction Invitation
• Friesen+Lantz Gallery: Spring Arrivals, Exhibition, ID
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2021

• Pierce County Public Art Commission: Signal Box Design
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 60th Annual Fall Exhibition
• Sun Valley Property News: Friesen Gallery Article, June/July
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 60th Summer Group Exhibition
• Friesen Gallery Exhibition, Sun Valley, ID
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2020

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 59th Annual Holiday Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 59th Annual Fall Exhibition
• Tres Hombres: Tacoma Art Museum Virtual Gala
• Friesen Gallery: Studio Seen Video
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

2019

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Gift of Art Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: The Visionaries of the Pacific Northwest Revisited; Our Holiday Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 58th Annual Summer Group Exhibition
• Backyard Quiet: Tacoma Art Museum Virtual Gala
• International Encaustic Artists Juried Show: Museum of Encaustic Art: 50 States/200 Artists, Santa Fe, NM
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon: 58th Annual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 58th Annual Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Exhibition

Collaboration with Terry Rishel moving forward to current day, unless otherwise noted.

2018

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 57thAnnual Holiday Group Exhibition
• Threads of Connection: Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Library, Public Art Commission
• Seattle Art Fair: Woodside/Braseth Gallery Exhibition
• Friesen Gallery: Phranc – The Great Outdoors, Sun Valley, ID
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon: 57thAnnual Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2017

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 56thAnnual Holiday Group Exhibition
• Friesen Gallery: Beneath the Surface Exhibition, Sun Valley, ID
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 56thAnnual Group Exhibition, The Collector’s Eye
• Seattle Art Fair: Woodside/Braseth Gallery Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 56thAnnual Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2016

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 55thAnnual Holiday Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 55thAnnual Anniversary Group Exhibition
• Seattle Art Fair: Woodside/Braseth Gallery Exhibition
• Breaking Free: Encaustic Art Institute, Permanent Collection Acquisition, Santa Fe, NM
• Friesen Gallery: Group Exhibition with Preston Singletary, Sun Valley, ID
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: A New Beginning Group Exhibition
• Pierce College Puyallup: Fine Arts Gallery, Solo Winter Exhibition
• Multicare Tacoma General Hospital: Birthing Center, Public Art Commission
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2015

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 54thAnnual Holiday Group Exhibition: Small & Significant
• Tacoma Art Museum: 80th Gala Exhibition Featured Artist
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: Our 54th Annual Group Exhibition

• Seattle Art Fair: Woodside/Braseth Gallery Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 54thAnnual Anniversary Group Exhibition
• Multicare Tacoma General Hospital: Rainier Connection Lobby, Public Art Commissions (2)
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2014

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition: Looking Forward & Looking Back
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Gift of Art Exhibition
• Tubac Center for the Arts: From the Earth Exhibition, Tubac, AZ
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 53rd Annual Group Exhibition
• Friesen Gallery: FILTERED: What Does Love Look Like?, Sun Valley, ID
• Bilinear Art Consulting Exhibition at Seattle Design Center
• Multicare Tacoma General Hospital: Rainier Pavillion, Public Art Commissions (2)
• Clover Park Technical College: Fifty Wise Speakers Advise Students

2013

• Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences: Works on Paper, National Juried Competition, NJ
• Center on Contemporary Art: CoCA Collision: Past, Present, & Future Members Show, catalog publication
• Intencions Gallery Solo Exhibition, Jackson Hole, WY
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Summer Group Exhibition
• Friesen Gallery: Group Exhibition, Sun Valley, ID
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: From Another Time Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 52nd Annual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon – A Group Exhibition
• Forterra-Land for Good: First Featured Artist, Solo Exhibition
• Jackson Hole News & Guide: Fall Art Festival, Energized Art Stepping Out

2012

• TEDx Tacoma Panelist: Ideas Worth Spreading
• Intuitive Self-Healing, Achieve Balance & Wellness Through the Body’s Energy Centers, Publication by Marie Manuchehri / Illustrations by Susan Russell Hall, Translated into German
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Solo Exhibition
• Tacoma Art Museum Exhibition of Intuitive Self-Healing, Achieve Wellness Through the Body’s Energy Centers
• Friesen Gallery: Group Exhibition with David Kimbal & Marie Manuchehri, Sun Valley, ID
• Ribbons of Reflection: ART FOR AIDS-Ribbons of Remembrance Project & Exhibition
• Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Guest Curator Exhibition
• Mayfest at Lakewold Gardens, Juried Exhibition
• Pierce College Puyallup: Fine Arts Gallery Solo Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: Our 51stAnnual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon Exhibition
• State Capitol, Olympia, WA: Pierce County Representation: Democratic Caucus Room of the WA State House of Representatives

2011

• Tacoma Art Museum: Collecting for the Future: The Safeco Gift & New Acquisitions
• Pierce College Steilacoom, Fine Arts Gallery: Solo Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 50th Annual Exhibition
• Wildfire Dawn: Whatcom County Museum: Fate of the Forest
• Swedish Hospital & Medical Center: Issaquah Campus: The Art of Healing, Public Commission
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: Our 50th Anniversary Group Exhibition

2010

• Fulcrum Gallery: Here & Now, A Show of Generations 1945-1997
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: Our 49th Anniversary Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition
• Tacoma YWCA Fundraiser: RAGS
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Group Exhibition with Michael Stasinos

2009

• College of New Rochelle, NY, Castle Gallery: Encaustic Works 2009, 7th International Biennial Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Small & Everlasting Exhibition

2008

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: e-ART-h Exhibition
• Tacoma Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital: Festival of Trees Featured Poster Artist
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2007

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Exhibition with Paul Horiuchi: 1906-1999
• Northwest Pastel Society’s International Open Exhibition

2006

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Summer Salon- A Group Exhibition
• James Harris Gallery, Seattle: Junctions: Selected Drawings from Contemporary Artists and Modern Masters
• Jill Newhouse Gallery, New York: Junctions: Selected Drawings from Contemporary Artists and Modern Masters
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon- A Group Exhibition

2005

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Small and Significant: Our 44th Annual Holiday Exhibition
• Tacoma Art Museum: Curator’s Choice Street Gallery Artists: The Night Tacoma Danced
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon- A Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2004

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 43rd Anniversary Group Exhibition
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Summer Salon- A Group Exhibition

2002

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: A Celebration of Spring
• Primo Grill: Solo Exhibition

2001

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Group Holiday Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: Our 40th Annual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: A Celebration of Spring: Works Inspired by Nature
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Spring Salon- A Group Exhibition

2000

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Northwest Realism
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: An Exhibit of Works by Wes Wehr & Friends
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Major Small Works by Northwest Masters & Selected Artists

1999

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 38th Annual Group Exhibition

1996

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: New Arrivals at the Gallery

1995

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Celebrate the Skagit Harvest
• Northwest Pastel Society Members’ Juried Exhibition
• American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA), Boca Raton, FL
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: 35th Annual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Exhibition with Catherine Eaton Skinner & John Worthey
• The Valley Museum of Northwest Art, Spring Benefit Juried Exhibition

1994

• Northwest Pastel Society’s International Open Exhibition
• Northwest Pastel Society Members’ Juried Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Holiday Exhibition
• Gallery Dei Gratia, LaConner: Landscape Show
• Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons (PAPS), Kagoshima, Japan
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Dealer’s Choice: 34th Annual Group Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: William Slater & Gallery Artists

1993

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: William Cummings & Gallery Artists

1992

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Solo Exhibition
• Northwest Pastel Society Members’ Juried Exhibition

1991

• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Northwest Landscape Artist Exhibition
• Woodside/Braseth Gallery: Opening at the BON: Solo Exhibition

1990

• Northwest Pastel Society Travel Showcase

1988

• Northwest Pastel Society Travel Showcase

1987

• Magnolia Outdoor Art Show
• Northwest Pastel Society: International Open Exhibition at Haviland Winery in Woodinville

1983

• American Medical Illustrators, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1982

• Pacific Science Center: Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Exhibition
• Burke Museum, University of Washington: Scientific Illustration Exhibition

1981

• Burke Museum, University of Washington: Scientific Illustration Exhibition

1977

• Women’s Cultural Center: Solo Exhibition

PUBLICATIONS

2026–2024

• Wax Fusion Anthology, Vol. I: The Weight of Light, International Encaustic Artists
• Orca: The Literary Issue – Absence & Anticipation, 55 Fathoms Publishing, No. 20, Spring
• Wax Fusion, Spring Issues 2025, 2024

2023–2021

• An Unlikely Collaboration: Susan Russell Hall & Terry Rishel
• CHD Magazine: Healing Hearts and Dale’s Heart
• Encaustic Art Institute Magazine: A Collaboration with Terry Rishel, Winter
• The Museum of Encaustic Art: 10th Anniversary of Encaustic Art Magazine
• Sun Valley Wellness Festival & Conference: Event Brochure

2020–2016

• Snow in Seattle, Illustrations Published
• Tacoma News Tribune: Artist Turned Athlete – Runs First Boston Marathon
• Encaustic Art of the Twenty-First Century, A.L. & E.A. Rooney

INTERVIEWS & PRESS

2021   

• Amy M. Le, Co-Founder of Heart Community Collection & Founder Quill Hawk Publishing                     

2020

• Tacoma Art Museum: Autumn

2019   

• South Sound Magazine, Women to Watch: Art, Running, and Life, Video                                                                                                                                                 

2018

• South Sound Magazine, Women to Watch, Vol. XVI, No. 5, September/October                                                           
• The Pioneer: Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Publication, Art to Honor Librarian, Vol. 52, Issue 1, September

2017   

• Tacoma News Tribune: Running with a Smile On, April

2016   

• NewsTV Newton Media Center: A.L. & E.A. Rooney

2012

• Silver Strider Magazine: Featured Story, November/December
• South Lake Union: Looking Beyond the Surface at Woodside-Braseth Gallery 
• The Stranger Newspaper: “Dealer’s Choice” Exhibition at Woodside Braseth Gallery, Group Exhibition with Jacob Lawrence, Casey Curran
• Tacoma News Tribune: Art for AIDS: Foundation Celebrates 25 Years, November
• Swedish Hospital & Medical Center – Issaquah Campus Art Collection: The Art of Healing, Group Exhibition with Kathleen G. Adkison, Dennis Evans, S, Alfred Harris, Paul Havas, & Jared Rue
• Greater Tacoma Community Foundation: Art Award Nominee – Spotlight: Susan Russell Hall 
• WordPress: Transformation, May
• Business Examiner: Who is TED? TEDx Tacoma Gives a Voice to Innovators, Vol. 28 No. 8, April
• Weekly Volcano: TEDx Tacoma Speakers to Tackle Transformation, No. 454, April
• South Sound Magazine: TEDx Comes to Tacoma, Vol. X, No. 1, February/March
• South Sound Magazine, Artist of the Heart, The Two Worlds of Susan Russell Hall, Vol. IX, Dec/Jan

2010

• Showcase Magazine: Spotlight / Susan Russell Hall, Spring

2009

• Featured Artist Broadcast on Pierce County News, April

2001

• KCPQ Documentary: Susan Russell Hall: Heart Artist, February

2001

• KSTW Documentary: Susan Russell Hall: Healing Hands, July

SELECTED LECTURES

2019               Pacific Gallery Artists: Breaking Through Encaustic and Pyrograph Art
2018               Women to Watch: Art, Running, and Life (Lakewood Rotary, Pacific Gallery Artists)
2010 – 2012  Pierce College: Careers in Art
2009               Tacoma Art Museum: Another Way of Illustrating the Way We Work
1998 – 2005   Multicare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Cardiac Surgery & Anatomy Lectures

JURORSHIPS

2019

• Bloedel Reserve’s Creative Residency
• Pacific Gallery Artists Member Show                                                                                           

2018

• Bloedel Reserve’s Creative Residency

2012

• 9th Congressional District Art Competition
• Pierce College Puyallup Spring Student Exhibition

2011

• The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Foundation of Art Award
• 9th Congressional District Art Competition

2010

• The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Foundation of Art Award
• Tacoma Community College Student Art Exhibition
• Franke Tobey Jones Senior Art Show
• 9th Congressional District Art Competition
• RAGS: Wearable Art Show, YWCA Benefit

2009

• 9th Congressional District Art Competition

HONORS

2018                  South Sound Women to Watch
2013                  International Encaustic Artists: LaVendeene Artistry Award Nominee
2012                  Greater Tacoma Community Foundation: Foundation of Art Award Nominee
2008                  Woman of Influence Nominee
1977 & 1978    Ford Foundation Art Scholarship

PUBLIC & CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Tacoma Art Museum, WA
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Library, WA
Anderson, Hogland, Saint Louis, MO
Bank West One, ID
Cairncross & Hempelmann, Seattle, WA
Cardiovascular & Pediatric Surgery, Inc. P.S., Seattle, WA
Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, Tacoma, WA
East West Fisheries, Seattle, WA
Forterra, Seattle, WA
The Haub Family Collection
Martin of Tours Collection, St. Martin’s Abbey, Olympia, WA
Kapiolani Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
Multicare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Tacoma, WA
MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, Rainier Pavillion, Tacoma, WA
Pierce County Art Bank, Portable Art Collection, WA (2007 & 2009)
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor, WA
Swedish Medical Centers, WA: First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, & Issaquah
Tash, Lyle and Associates, Seattle, WA

EDUCATION

1991-1993   University of Washington: Studies in Visual Expression
1978-1979   Seattle Central Community College: Advertising Art & Graphic Design
1975-1978   University of Washington: Art Studies

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

2012-Present   Encaustic Art Institute                                                                                                                                2012-Present   International Encaustic Artist
1987-Present   Northwest Pastel Society – Charter Signature Member
1977-1995        Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Esophageal atresia associated with a rare vascular ring and esophageal duplication diverticulum: A case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, vol.47, no.10 (October 2012)

Woods, “Vascular Rings” in Johns Hopkins Manual of Cardiovascular Surgery. Mcgraw Hill, 2007Wood, B. M. Achauer, and R. C. Russell, National Institute of Health National Surgical Protocol on Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Maser, Plastic Surgery: Indications, Operations and Outcomes

H. T Waldhausen, Ambulatory Surgery, Scirmer and Ratner eds. W. B. Saunders Co. O Hickman, Vascular Access

Murakami, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

G Stevenson, Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiographic Identification of Remediable Problems in Patients Undergoing Damus-Kaye-Stansel Operation, 1999

Maser, Archives of Surgery

H. S. Huang, J. S. Gruss, S. K. Clarren, et al. 1998 Year Book of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1998

Wood, Scientific Illustration, 2nd ed. 1994

Stehling, Common Problems in Pediatric Anesthesia, 2nd ed.

M. Morray, Atrioventricular Canal and Down Syndrome, Mosby Year Book. Philadelphia, 1992

Lewin, Truncus Arteriosus, Science and Practice, 3rd ed.

Tenckhoff, D. E. Schofield, S. L. Russell, D. Debich, Congenital Heart Disease. The American Society of Clinical Pathologists Commission on Continuing Education, 1991

Craig, Pediatric echocardiography: Cardiac Embryology, Echocardiography, 1990

Tenckhoff, Differential Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease,1990

P. Morray and E. J. Kane, Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery Pediatric Anesthesia, 2nd ed., ed. G. Gregory. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1989

P. Morray and E. J. Kane, Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery Pediatric Anesthesia, ed. G. Gregory. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1983

S. Smith, ed., Chronic Disorders in Adolescence, 1983

A. Rittenhouse et al, Congenital Heart Disease in the First 3 Months of Life, L. Parenzan, Crupi, G. Graham, G, eds. 1981

J. Stamm and L. Tenckhoff, Common and Emergent Congenital Heart Disease – Diagnosis and Management of Selected Cases, 1980

Tenckhoff, Pediatric Cardiology Handbook, 1980, 1984, & 1990

Wood, Scientific Illustration, 1978

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

2026                Concept Shell Foundation: Board of Advisors
2024-Present Pacific Bonsai Museum: Board of Directors
2001-2021      Tacoma Art Museum: Trustee, Board President
2009-2020      Pierce College Foundation: Trustee, Board President
2008-2010      MultiCare Hospital: Campaign Cabinet Member for Emergency Services
2005-2006      American Leadership Forum: Selection Committee, Class XII, Senior Fellow