Susan Gott is a very well known glass artist from Tampa, Florida.  Her sculptural glass embodies an interest in mythological imagery, symbolism, and traditions from ancient cultures.  She studies these symbols and philosophies to develop ideas and create a new mythos, using glass as a sculptural medium.  Through drawing and visual abstraction, she is able to find new meaning, develop a vision, and explore new directions.  The resulting sculptures in glass are a visual representation of the cycles of life.  Susan's philosophical investigations have opened new sources of inspiration for her work and strengthened a connection between her art and timeless themes.

The artwork evolves from Susan’s research and drawings as she creates sculptures using mold-making, glass-casting, or hot glass manipulation techniques.  She frequently works directly in a sand mold by carving cryptic symbols and 'painting' images with powdered glass colors.  The casting process can be intense and often involves ladling the molten glass directly from the furnace.  Planned images or inclusions may be placed in the interior of the sculpture, while intuitive decisions are made as the artist manipulates the molten material.  The resulting glass reveals itself in layers by diffusing or transmitting light through the material; transparent or opaque, polished or rough, exposing or disguising the interior.  The glass surfaces are further enhanced with enamels, copper, gold leaf, patinas, polishing, or sandblasting.  The texture and forms obtained with cast glass combined with aesthetic concerns allow an articulate yet raw method of expressing Susan's connection of ancient and contemporary themes.