Susan Jan Amstater Schwartz

Susan Jan Amstater Schwartz, grew up in El Paso’s Upper Valley, attended Zach White Elementary and graduated from El Paso High School in 1958. She was active in Student Council, Science Club, Tatler Staff & ROTC, as member of the Officers Club.

After graduation, Susan moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado before relocating to Los Angeles, where she studied at UCLA and the Otis Art Institute, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Upon returning to El Paso, her life was deeply rooted in family, her lifelong love of horses and her art, which became her truest form of self-expression. She once wrote:

“To me, painting is more than a language, it is a feeling. The essence of what I paint is color, shape, and value used to create symbolism and vibration.”

Her work was exhibited in galleries and collections nationwide, including Nedra Matteucci Fine Arts in Santa Fe, the Texas Governor’s Mansion, and the United States Pentagon, where one of her paintings was lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She was also a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, a testament to her dedication and artistry.

In 1999, Susan was honored as the featured artist for the Santa Fe Opera season poster, a milestone that placed her in the company of artists she admired, including Georgia O’Keeffe. She also collaborated with close friends Jacquelyn Stroud Spier, Connie Dillman, and Dorothy Ann Leach to create and illustrate three books: Desert Echo: Women Illuminate the Sacred, Yes, We Are Still Dancing, and As-Is. Following a walking and cooking tour of Italy, she published Italy: A Joy Expressed, a celebration of recipes and paintings.

Susan gave generously of her time to the community, volunteering with organizations such as the Junior League of El Paso and the El Paso Zoo. In 2000, she was inducted into the El Paso Artists’ Hall of Fame, and her work was often donated to fundraising efforts supporting causes close to her heart.