Susan Singer’s Eyes Project Coming to Richmond Public Library

The artist writes, “A timely exhibition during COVID times when all we can see are each other’s eyes.” 

In August 2019, Susan Singer felt an urge, a calling, an inexplicable desire to start photographing people’s eyes. She recognized it was her task to take pictures of people’s eyes and to render them in as many mediums as she could manage. Given the polarization rampant in the world, Susan Singer was looking for a way to help people see eye-to-eye, to take the time to look into each other’s eyes and see the gracious kindness present there. She wrote at the time, “Each time I interview a subject, I come away with powerful feelings, usually good, about the human race, especially about the individual I’ve just spoken with. Regardless of their background, economic situation, race, age, political party or religious beliefs, I fall a little bit in love with each and every person as they allow me to see into their souls.” 

Susan was well on her way to achieving her goal of 100 models in March 2020 when the world suddenly shut down. People were no longer available to model for her. People could only go out with masks. Profoundly, all we could see were each other’s eyes. Susan’s Eyes Project took on a different significance as, suddenly, our normal cues of smiles and frowns were gone. We learned to read other’s eyes like we’d never done before. It was all we had. 

Susan Singer’s Eyes Project exhibit opens April 1 in the Main Richmond Public Library’s Gellman Room.

Richmond Public Library  

101 East Franklin Street

Richmond, VA 23219