Ms. Synarski received a BA in Painting from CSU Sacramento and an MFA in Painting from San Francisco State University in 1991.

She has been honored with awards from American Illustration and Communications Arts. Her work was chosen for Rolling Stone: The Illustrated Portraits, an anthology of top illustrations that have appeared in the magazine.

Synarski’s versatile work ranges from edgy, editorial illustrations to whimsical graphics for children’s products. Her work has appeared in books, magazines, newspapers, greeting cards, giftware, and toys. She works primarily in acrylic, gouache and ink.

She lives with her partner and their dog in Oakland, California where she also enjoys gardening, hiking and home improvement projects.

An exhibition of 3 lesbian artists, featuring Synarski's work ran from May 17 - June 25, 2005. The opening events included a night with the artist titled "Nice Girls Don't...".

Time Out New York had this to say in it's review, " Oakland's Susan Synarski, meanwhile, employs a potent mix of witty humor, fantasy and fabulous characters, including female pirates, sexy criminals and pretty grade-school teachers, to create colorful illustrations in acrylic and gouache."

The New York Blade said, "Illustrator Susan Synarski's works...take you on a little trip, and right away, your'e on a Disneyland dark ride."

Featured article from The Archive, the journal of the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation

PRINT’S
REGIONAL DESIGN ANNUAL 2003

Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas was chosen to be included int the 2003 issue of Prints Regional Design Annual. Thanks to Pamela Geismar who won kudos for her beautiful work designing the book.

OUT 100

Susan was honored to be included in Out Magazine's 100 Most Intriguing Gay People of the Year 2002. Who would have thought? Page 77 of the December 2002 issue says:

"'Hilarious' is the way that one reveiwer chose to describe Synarski's illustrations for Chronicle Books' popular 2002 title Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas. They are also colorful, imaginative, and playful. An artist whose illustrations have frequently appeared in the pages of Out, her work has also been seen in such leading pulbications as Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and The New York Times."