Biography

Erin Suess was born in Dearborn, Michigan and has been a lifelong Downriver area resident, currently living in Wyandotte, Michigan. She earned an Associate’s Degree in art from Henry Ford Community College. Following graduation, she worked as a graphic designer for design agencies and the Detroit News and Free Press before advancing her career to art director with a Dearborn agency. Throughout that time, Suess served on the Board of Directors for the Downriver Council for the Arts (DCA). She has acted as Executive Director with the DCA since the summer of 2016. In this capacity, she uses her board experience to take a more proactive and direct role in achieving the goals and maintaining the mission of the DCA. Personal experience has taught her that the arts are very important to the community and nurturing communities through arts and culture is an important aspect of being involved with the DCA. 

Suess has been asked to judge and jury a multitude of annual arts and cultural activities including the Michigan Student Film Festival (DAFT), the Michigan Congressional Art Competition, the Michigan PTA Art Competition, and various art fairs. After participating in the Arts Leaders as Cultural Innovators program, provided by EmcArts and CultureSource, Suess continues to attend workshops and coaching as well as learning to facilitate Adaptive Leadership alongside other influencers in the Southeast Michigan community. 

In 2022, Suess continued her education at College for Creative Studies in Detroit where she is adding to her knowledge of fine and contemporary arts while networking and making connections with an integral community of artists and educators. Her current art practice focuses on abstracting concepts of human behavior while sourcing nature. She is experimenting with a multitude of media and materials.