Susan Nomberg
McCollough, Ph.D.hc 

     At a ceremony in Florence, Italy, Susan
Nomberg McCollough, was honored as 2017’s “Artist of the Year” and one of the
“Top 60 Contemporary Masters” by the world’s most widely circulated art
publication – Art Tour International. They selected her for the ART TITANS –
Masters of the New Era documentary series for which she received the award in
New York in 2023. The documentary, “Art Titans – Susan N. McCollough, A Journey
of Inspiration,” is available on Vivid Arts Network and Roku. 

     She was born in Bronx, New York and lived
in Dothan, Alabama from the age of six until graduation from Dothan High
School. She was crowned Miss Dothan High School, Class Beauty, School Beauty,
Homecoming Queen, Dothan High Key Club Sweetheart,

Alabama State Key Club
Sweetheart, Majorette, and Outstanding Twirler at Florida State University
Twirling Camp. While at the University of Alabama she was selected as “Miss
Alabama” Million Dollar Band Sponsor for two years, Corolla Beauty, Lambda Chi
Sweetheart – Crescent Girl, R.O.T.C Sponsor, Miss Alabama State Pageant, top
five for Miss America Pageant, won an acting scholarship to Playhouse “90”, Los
Angeles, California, Miss Alabama International Beauty Congress, Long Beach,
California, and top five Miss U.S.A in the International Pageant in California
(now Miss Universe Pageant). 

     She received her B.S. in Theater and Art
from The University of Alabama studying with Alvin  C. Sella, Frank Engel, and later continued to
study with many accomplished artists and teachers, including Max Hellman at the
Birmingham Museum of Art, Professor Gary Sussman at Students Arts League of New
York, Vytlacil Campus (sculpture), Sonia De Franceschi at the Accademia
D’Arte  in  Florence, Italy  where she engaged in the Old  Masters technique of painting and gold
leafing and studied with Michael Mentler, Master Artist in figurative drawing
and Renaissance Tradition. 

     McCollough has produced numerous
paintings, many on commission, and she has exhibited in many solo and group
exhibitions across four continents. 

     The University of Alabama commissioned her
to create a painting to honor her late professor and life-long mentor, Al
Sella. The painting is an impressionistic portrait of the iconic artist and his
emblematic bicycle. This large portrait now hangs in the art building, Clark
Hall, and it is slated to do so in perpetuity. 

     She is honored to
have the sculpture Coach Nick Saban placed in three museums and the
Donor Hall of Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The first sculpture
was gifted to the Saban's and is temporarily on display at Bryant-Denny Stadium
in the Donor's Hall which will eventually find its new home at The Saban
Complex. The second sculpture is at The Susan N. McCollough Fine Art Studio in
Gulf Shores, Alabama. The third sculpture is in a private collection belonging
to Holland and Carolyn Powell in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The fourth sculpture is
at the Paul W. Bryant Museum in the Saban section in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The
fifth sculpture is at The United States Sports Academy Museum in Daphne,
Alabama. The sixth sculpture is at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum in
Birmingham, Alabama. 

     Susan served on the Art Committee and as a
member of the Board of Trustees at the United States Sports Academy for more
than 16 years. The USSA attracts and honors artists from around the world and
is solely responsible for selecting featured artists for the Artist of the Year
Award. She now serves on the committee as Artist Emeritus and on the Academy’s Board
of Trustees as Board of Trustees Emeritus. 

     In June 2024, Susan received an Honorary
Ph.D. from the esteemed United States Sports Academy for her work in the arts
and as a member of the Board of Trustees. 

     She is a member of the Women's Art World
organization in Marrakech, Morocco. The WAW's mission is to bring together and
promote Women's art in a world of different cultures, languages, and art.
Today, there are 20 countries, and 35 artists represented in Women's Art World.
Susan is also a member of ICAF 
(International  Culture  and Arts 
Federation) in Seoul,  South  Korea; NOMA 
(New  Orleans Museum  of 
Art)   in  New 
Orleans,  Louisiana  (USA); 
BMOA  (Birmingham   Museum 
of  Art)   in Birmingham,   Alabama 
(USA);   MMofA  (Mobile  
Museum  of  Art)  
in  Mobile,  Alabama 
(USA); Metropolitan  Museum of Las
Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA); MOMA 
(Museum of Modern Art) New York City, New York (USA), MMOA  (Metropolitan 
Museum of Art) in New York City, New York (USA) and DMA (Dallas Museum
of Art) Dallas, Texas (USA). 

     McCollough paints primarily on large
canvases, sometimes working on as many as three or four paintings at a time.
Her works are Abstract Expressionism with freedom of movement and vibrant, or
sometimes, monochromatic colors. She sculpts using water-based clay as well as
paints in oils. Susan also paints with acrylics, as well as using charcoal and
ink, pastels, watercolors, and mixed media. 

     In 2024, Susan N. McCollough celebrated
her eleventh year in her Gallery and Studio which housed more than 50
representative examples of her work. The theme of her Grand Opening was:
"Past and Present.” Now, after years of painting, she says she can paint
everyday “For the love of it.” I paint from the excitement of the blank canvas.
I paint with freedom of inner feelings, movement, lighting, connection of
space, combination of colors, playing with positive and negative space until it
all speaks to me." 

     Starting a new year in 2025, she has recently
closed her Gallery/Studio and has moved from The McCollough Institute. Her new
studio is still located in Gulf Shores, Alabama and is located at the MacLand
Ranch. She looks forward to having clients view new work there as well by
appointment. Most days you will find her working in the studio, where she
continues to sculpt, paint, and exhibit her art.

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