A woman smiling and holding a ceramic dog head with text and images of dogs and the word 'No' all over it above her head.

About

Bio

I hold a BFA in Illustration from Columbus College of Art & Design. My ceramics have appeared in solo and group shows at places like the Canton Museum of Art, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, Akron Museum of Art, Massillon Museum, and more. Most recently I was honored with a Creative Forces grant which is a collaboration between the NEA, DOD, and VA to create art that supports the health and well-being of military and veteran communities.

Artist Statement

I’ve long been drawn to the masks we wear. Those are the personas we craft for others and the stereotypes society quietly imposes on us. These hidden layers shape how we connect, or don’t. Right now I’m exploring femininity with openness and delight. I use familiar symbols like florals and soft colors to celebrate its beauty while honestly acknowledging its weight.

My handbuilt pieces are invitations to pause. They bring beauty and joy into your everyday spaces. They also offer a gentle nudge toward curiosity about yourself and others. They serve as a reminder that it’s okay to embrace softness, complexity, and even absurdity without apology. In a world quick to judge, I hope my work encourages us to smile instead of stressing.

These pieces are made to live in your home, bringing beauty and lightness to your daily routines. They might spark a quiet moment of reflection over coffee or simply bring a smile with their whimsy. In time, one may become a cherished family heirloom.

This is my quiet way of making sense of things. My hope is that my work offers you a similar gentle space to do the same. Thanks for stopping by.


AWARDS AND HONORS

Paul Brown Museum
Purchased “Father of Football” for their permanent collection

2024

2024

Ohio Designer Craftsmen
Award for Excellence

Canton Museum of Art
Purchased “Quiet Dragon” for their permanent collection

2023

Brown's Town: Art Inspired by Ohio's Football Heritage, Paul Brown Museum
Best In Show

2025

Earth & Fire, Ceramics Take Over Wheeling
Merit Award

2025

  • “Exposure”, Ceramics Monthly, June & July 2024, p.13

    “Gallery”, Doll Collector Magazine September 2010, p.49

    Nordstrom Stores, 2010 design for iPhone 4 cases

    Scelfo, Julie, “You Design It, They Print it”, The New York Times, Jan. 7, 2009

    “American Mother of Chinese Dolls, Interview with Susan Mentrak”, Little Thing Magazine, 05 Issue, China, March 2009, p.108-109

    Mentrak, Susan, “Make Your Own Joybucket Dolls” Stuffed Magazine Summer 2009, p.127

    Model Engine, The Lean Years Tradition, January 2007, album cover art

    Mentrak, Susan, Off the Cuff Creatures, Pretty Little Pincushions, Lark Books, November 2007, p.80-83

    3-Dimensional Illustrators Awards Annual III, 1991, George Orwell’s 1984, p. 232, The Mists of Avalon, p. 235

    3-Dimensional Illustrators Awards Annual II, 1990, p.125