THE WHARTON COLLECTION
Sliver of Red on Blue
Suzy Barnard
Moss and Sage
Suzy Barnard
Smokey Green, Black Line
Suzy Barnard
MEET THE ARTIST
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SUZY BARNARD
Suzy Barnard does not have to search far for her inspiration. Providing ample opportunity for exploration and a constant supply of inspiration, her studio is located off Pier 70 in San Francisco and just out her window is a panoramic view of the bay. Her paintings are informed by the endlessly changing weather, its dramatic light, and the constant parade of cargo ships in the vast harbor. Hundreds of ships have passed by her windows. Quite familiar with all the ways they can appear and disappear, Barnard imagines that her process of mixing and layering paints is akin to playing with particles of water and air, traveling in her mind’s eye between sea, sky, and shore, completely immersed in colorscape.
Born in England, Suzy Barnard earned her BFA (Painting) in 1980 from Bristol Polytechnic and moved to the Bay Area in 1981. She obtained her MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1984 and has been exhibiting steadily since that time. Her works can be found in many private, and public collections around the world.
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
For centuries, the University of Pennsylvania has been a leader in education, innovation, and cultural stewardship. As part of this legacy, art has played a vital role in enriching the intellectual and cultural fabric of academic life.
Over time, The Wharton School has become home to an extraordinary and diverse art collection, spanning multiple campuses and featuring works by some of the most influential artists of all time. From the surrealist visions of Salvador Dalí and the bold abstractions of Joan Miró, to the pop art brilliance of Andy Warhol and the intellectual expressions of Robert Motherwell, Wharton’s collection reflects a deep appreciation for artistic exploration across generations and movements.
At Wharton, art is not confined to a single museum or gallery. It lives within the very spaces where ideas are formed and exchanged. Whether displayed in classrooms, corridors, offices, or dedicated exhibition spaces, these works serve as a source of inspiration, discovery, and conversation for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the broader public.
This website, developed by Wharton San Francisco, currently showcases the art that lives at Wharton’s San Francisco campus. The works presented here represent one part of The Wharton School’s broader art collection, which extends across its campuses and continues to grow and evolve.
In the coming months, this digital collection will expand to bring the full Wharton Art Collection online, creating a home where students, faculty, staff, and alumni across the Wharton and Penn communities—as well as art lovers, scholars, and members of the broader public—can discover, explore, and engage with these works.
Welcome to the Wharton Art Collection—a celebration of the intersection of art, scholarship, and culture.
Explore the Full Art Collection
Discover more works from the Wharton Art Collection and learn more about the artists and pieces featured throughout our spaces.