Going Direct: Astrological Cycles and the Observational Art of Susanna Coffey

The Celestial Metaphor of “Going Direct” at Serious Topics in Inglewood.

The title of Susanna Coffey’s upcoming exhibition at Serious Topics, Going Direct, is drawn from an astronomical term describing a planet resuming its normal forward, eastward trajectory across the sky after a period of retrograde motion. This celestial concept serves as a central metaphor for Coffey’s observational painting process, mapping the movements of planets onto the psychological and formal mechanics of making art.

From the Racetrack to the Infinite Orbit

For Coffey, the cyclical nature of an orbit—where elements disappear only to return from what appears to be an opposite direction was first understood during her childhood encounters watching harness racers train at the Monticello Raceway. Decades later, when the astrologer Kathryn Sapoznick explained the concept of Mercury Retrograde, Coffey connected that astrological framework back to the circular racetrack of her youth. She realized that both the celestial bodies and the racing horses shared a pattern of departure, temporary loss from sight, and sudden re-emergence.

Retreat and Return at the Easel

This orbital pattern directly mirrors Coffey’s experience at the easel. As a figurative painter working from intense, direct observation, she begins each piece in hope of a culmination rather than a simple conclusion. However, as she applies paint to the canvas, she notes that the initial truth of her subject often seems to recede and escape her vision.

Rather than abandoning the work when the subject feels lost, Coffey trusts in the orbital return. She maintains a stubborn belief that the process will eventually circle back, bringing a departure from and a return to her original vision. It is at this moment of return that her painting is “going direct” and heading toward its finish line.

Susanna Coffey Self-Portraits and Night Landscapes

The exhibition features these themes across her self-portraits, which treat the genre not merely as a likeness but as a formal and psychological inquiry into appearance, gender caricature, and feeling-states. It also includes her observational night landscapes, which are painted entirely in the dark and chosen for how ordinary subjects, like pastures or parking lots, are transformed and appear sublime. Through both subjects, the cosmic concept of receding and returning remains the driving force behind her observational gaze.

Plein-Air Painting and Serious Topics Exhibition Details

Reflecting this dedication to nocturnal observation, the exhibition also offers an opportunity for the public to engage directly with Coffey’s night-painting practice. Ahead of the official exhibition run from September 12 through October 24, Serious Topics is hosting free plein-air night painting sessions with Coffey on September 6 and 7. These sessions allow participants to experience firsthand the transformation of ordinary spaces under the cover of darkness, bridging the astronomical themes of her work with the physical act of painting under the night sky. The opening reception takes place on September 12 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, preceded by an artist talk with Michael Slenske at 1:00 PM.

Serious Topics is located down the driveway at 1207 N. La Brea Ave., Suite 300, Inglewood, California 90302. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. For more information and night painting registration go HERE.