About - background

Susan began professionally photographing families along the Jersey Shore during her freshman year of college. Over the decades, her elegant yet playful style evolved as she studied with master portrait artists and photographers. What began as a home-based practice soon grew into a dedicated studio and gallery space just steps from the beach.

A graduate of Monmouth University and a mother of three and grandmother of seven, Susan’s life and art have always been deeply intertwined with the coastal landscape.

On October 29, 2012, the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in Bay Head, New Jersey, changed everything. The following spring, she began merging her love of water, photography, the human form, and fine art materials—pastels, chalks, oils, wax, and other media—to create a luminous impressionistic style of mixed-media work. As she rebuilt her beach portrait business, a new muse emerged: the underwater sea goddess. By 2020, Susan’s creative journey had fully evolved into the realm of underwater fine art.

Susan J Roche with granddaughters
artist, Susan J Roche work, Galatea, part of the top five artworks at the 2024 Hamptons Fine Arts show.
You decades ago, Susan J Roche began he career as a young mother professionally crafted elegant baby and family portraiture
Susan J Roche's family portrait style - playful with elegance
Family group standing on the beach at sunset, smiling and dressed in white and beige clothing.

July 2024 - Hamptons.com

The Hamptons Fine Arts Fair showcased over 140 galleries in a majestic and architecturally distinctive 70,000 sq. ft. Pavilion complex built on a raised platform. Roughly 10,000 guests attended the fair in Southampton from July 11th to July 14th. This fair has become the largest art event in the Hamptons, attracting Hamptons-based art aficionados.

 

Captivating artworks and sculptures adorned every wall and space, but some stood out more than others. These artworks explore new territory, provoke emotions, and make you stop and think.