The exhibition features work grounded in classical technique across a range of subjects.
(April 8, 2026) A new exhibition of recent paintings by Susan McLeod, “Patience and Peace,” offers an intimate look at portraiture, memory and emotional resonance. On view through May 2 at the Andrew Ford Fine Art Gallery in downtown Sarasota, the exhibition features approximately 30 works. The paintings are primarily oil, with select acrylic and drawing pieces spanning portraiture, landscape and still life. Rooted in classical technique, the work reflects a contemporary, deeply personal sensibility shaped by decades of observation and experience.
A Sarasota resident since the 1970s, McLeod has remained closely connected to the visual arts, operating galleries on Siesta Key and St. Armands Circle and contributing to early public art efforts such as Season of Sculpture. After more than 30 years in real estate, she has returned to painting full time.
Portraiture forms the core of the exhibition, with works that move beyond likeness toward mood and emotional resonance. Many begin with photographic references but evolve through an intuitive process.
“I start with references, but before it’s over, the paint tells me what’s going to happen,” McLeod says.
Titles such as “Family,” “A Song for My Father” and “My Sister’s Birthday” suggest layered narratives without fixed interpretation, while other works introduce moments of humor and visual play. Landscapes and still lifes extend similar themes, balancing realism with atmosphere and ambiguity.
Throughout the exhibition, McLeod incorporates a range of influences and techniques, including a red chalk drawing inspired by 17th-century European traditions. Her subjects also reflect an interest in identity and representation, seen in portraits that engage a range of perspectives.
As Sarasota continues to define its cultural identity, McLeod hopes the exhibition serves as a reminder of the visual arts’ foundational role in the city’s history.
“Visual art helped make this town what it is,” she says. “It deserves to be part of the conversation.”
Specializing in contemporary and modern Latin American art with an emphasis on Jorge Blanco (Venezuelan American living in Sarasota for the past 30 years). Jorge has been working in industrial design and public art for the past 5 decades and is a leader in anthropomorphic abstract large format public sculpture. Located in historic downtown Sarasota, Florida. Andrew Ford Fine Art is the exclusive gallerist of Jorge Blanco sculpture and graphic art.
He and his outstanding team are working hard to bring a new level of service and wonder to Historic Downtown Sarasota. Items he has procured from all over the United State, as well as internationally, are rotated in daily so the look is always fresh with new and exciting pieces from both private and public collections.
