SUSAN MCLEARY

PASSIONFLOWER SUE

aka

floral artist
INSTRUCTOR
presenter
AUTHOR

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan

I aim to support the profession of floristry through testing and offering relevant, innovative, solution-based ideas based on the principles of design and sustainable methods.

I believe that floristry is an art form, and we are artists! I aim to challenge conventional ideas about what florists are capable of. In everything I make and do, I aim to support a cultural shift towards recognizing floristry as an art form. Promoting this idea serves to empower florists and encourages them to explore their unique creativity. When harnessed, our creativity allows us to make more interesting, emotive work that fills the artist while also serving to elevate our profession.

AS SEEN IN

my story

I began working with flowers over 20 years ago when a friend asked me to design for her wedding. When I had her flowers in my hands, I immediately recognized that floristry was the perfect creative outlet for me. Through the practice, I am able to weave together many of my disparate interests- my reverence for the natural world, my love of decorative arts, my love of fashion and accessory design, and the deep curiosity that drives me to challenge convention and offer innovative findings.

I spent 13 years exploring the medium as a wedding and event florist before focusing on my true interest- activities that allow me to contribute positively to the profession and elevate it in the eyes of the public. This curiosity has led me to a full time focus on teaching, presenting and writing about floristry. Through my work, I hope to encourage continual forward movement. I hope to invite people to see natural materials in a new way and to engage in deliberate creative practice for the benefit of the industry and the artist.

I’ve had the honor of presenting and teaching at workshops, conferences, floral schools, and exhibitions all over the world. I also share my love for the art of floral design through my two books, The Art of Wearable Flowers and Flowers for All and through my online library of classes, Virtual Studio membership, and Domestika classes.

This video was recorded as a part of the “Flower Forward” presentation at the American Institute of Floral Designers 2022 conference.

PHILOSOPHY

The emotive, ephemeral nature of this art form allows me to communicate the importance and value of pausing to relish the present moment. The present is all that we truly have- this realization has offered serenity to my life, and I hope to offer this sentiment to others through my work.

My love for nature drives me to use floristry to increase awareness around sustainability and make advancements towards more natural, less wasteful and harmful design applications.

Working with the medium of flowers also allows me to honor growers and promote the value of seasonal, locally-sourced materials. The work that florists create is even more meaningful and rich when the elements possess a sense of season and place.

My love of florists and floristry motivates me to teach. I want to offer ideas that challenge convention and push the art of floristry forward. I aim to encourage florists to create work that they truly love instead of only working in reaction to requests.

This passion motivates me to use my voice to elevate the industry by piquing curiosity and grabbing the attention of the public. Increased awareness of what we do will result in more opportunities for us all.

I value curiosity, continual forward movement and innovation. Curiosity is dearest to me, as it is the spark where all ideas and understanding originate. It asks you to constantly think, challenge, question, test and improve. I see innovation as a human responsibility and I hope to encourage this in others by deliberately and regularly sharing my floral discoveries.

I value diversity, inclusion and progress. I understand that inclusivity is vital to fostering an equitable, welcoming, multidimensional culture that values all life experiences and points of view- especially valuing those of underrepresented or excluded voices. I aim to make all feel welcome and seen.

CV

    • The Chapel Designers conference

    • Flowerstock

    • Saison Fleurie, Seoul, Korea

    • The Boerma Instituut, Aalsmeer, Netherlands

    • Carlota Flower Lab, Mexico City

    • Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association

    • The Slow Flowers Summit

    • Mayesh International Experience Workshop, Quito, Ecuador

    • Floret Flower workshop

    • Green Mountain Floral Supply

    • Mood Flowers

    • Madrid Flower School, Madrid Spain

    • Capelily Botanical Journey, South Africa

    • Pearsons School of Floristry, Sydney, Australia

    • FLORA workshop

    • The Floral Reserve

    • Olga’s Flower Farm, Lake Como, Italy

    • The American Institute of Floral Design 

    • The Trend Summit, Vancouver Canada 

    • Whitney Island Workshop 

    • Seattle Wholesale Growers Market 

    • Eurosa Farms, British Columbia 

    • The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show- presentation and judging Botanical Arts

    • The American Institute of Floral Designers

    • The Grosse Pointe Garden Club

    • River Oaks Garden Club

    • The Memphis Garden Club

    • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Fine Arts & Flowers

    • Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association

    • The Slow Flowers Summit

    • Florabundance Design Days

    • Pearsons School of Floristry, Sydney, Australia

    • The Naples Garden Club

    • Detroit Flower Week

    • Seattle Wholesale Growers Market

    • North Carolina Museum of Art

    • Wellpeople

    • Fiskars

    • Accent Decor

    • Mayesh

    • Cosmopolitan

    • SELF

    • Country Living

    • Flower magazine

    • Midwest Living

    • Martha Stewart Weddings

    • My Modern Met

    • Buzzfeed

    • Florists’ Review

    • Belle Armoire