Susan Amstater Schwartz

Susan Jan Amstater Schwartz was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 21, 1941, to Joseph M. Amstater of El Paso and Olive Shirlee Zemansky Amstater of Los Angeles, California. Susan grew up in El Paso’s Upper Valley, where she attended Zach White Elementary and El Paso High School. After high school, she moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado before relocating to Los Angeles, where she continued her art studies at UCLA and the Otis Art Institute, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

After graduating, Susan returned to El Paso, where she married Irving Troutman “Mickey” Schwartz and had two sons, Scott and Doug. Susan’s life revolved around her family, her love of horses a passion shared with her mother and her art, where she found a profound means of self-expression. Susan once wrote: “To me, painting is more than a language it is a feeling. The essence of what I paint is color, shape, and value used to create symbolism and vibration.”

Her art has been showcased in galleries, exhibitions, and collections across the United States, including Nedra Matteucci Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Texas Governor’s Mansion, and the United States Pentagon, where one of her paintings was tragically destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Susan was also a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, reflecting her mastery and dedication to the medium.

One of Susan’s notable achievements was being the featured artist for the 1999 season poster of the Santa Fe Opera, a milestone she shared with artists who inspired her, such as Georgia O’Keeffe. She also co-created and illustrated three books with her dear friends Jacquelyn Stroud Spier, Connie Dillman, and Dorothy Ann Leach: Desert Echo: Women Illuminate the Sacred, Yes, We Are Still Dancing, and As-Is. After a walking and cooking tour of Italy, Susan published Italy: A Joy Expressed, a book of recipes and paintings.

Susan generously volunteered her time to various El Paso organizations, including the Junior League of El Paso and the El Paso Zoo. She was inducted into the El Paso Artists’ Hall of Fame in 2000 and her art was often donated to support fundraising efforts for many causes.

She and her husband, Mickey, shared a love for travel, spending months on fly-fishing and trekking trips in Montana and New Zealand. They also visited the Kingdom of Bhutan as guests of the Bhutanese Royal Family, experiencing the country before it opened to Western tourism.

Susan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mickey Schwartz. She is survived by her sons, Scott M. Schwartz (Tania) and Douglas A. Schwartz, and her four grandchildren Samuel, S. Maximus, Sienna, and Milan who brought her great joy in her later years. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Richard Amstater (Judy) and Kathie Harris.

Susan passed away peacefully in her sleep with her family by her side on January 19, 2025. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Susan’s wonderful caregivers: Dr. Lauro Ortega, Angelina Maldonado, Charlene Moser, Angelina Martinez, Mandy Torres, Dee Dee Torres, Mirna Vargas, Xochitl Enriquez, Martha Posada and Sylvia Ramirez, who provided support during her final days.

A funeral service will be held graveside at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Mount Sinai Cemetery (3911 Gateway Boulevard West, El Paso, TX 79903).