For Susan Swig, collecting is inseparable from civic life. A fifth-generation San Franciscan, philanthropist, and cultural patron, Swig has spent more than two decades shaping both her personal collection and the institutions that sustain the Bay Area’s contemporary art ecosystem. Her approach to collecting is grounded in curiosity, commitment, and long-term relationships with artists, gallerists, and museums—favoring works that reward daily living and sustained looking.
Swig has served as a trustee of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for more than 20 years and is a founding board member of the Institute for Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF), which opened in 2022. She is also deeply involved with FOG Design+Art, where she curates the fair’s Talks program, convening artists, curators, and thinkers in conversation. Whether encountering a work in a museum or welcoming it into her home, Swig’s collection reflects a belief that art should be lived with—integrated into daily rhythms and public dialogue alike.
Behind the Art of Collecting
Courtesy of Susan Swig.
Susan Swig.
WHITEWALL: Can you share a recent acquisition you’re excited about?
SUSAN SWIG: I bought a large photograph (video still) by Isaac Julian called Diasporic Dream-Space Parcour (Once Again…Statues Never Die).
I saw his spectacular exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. It had traveled here from the Tate Modern. I have long been a fan of Isaac (both as an artist and personally), and when I walked into the entry of the show, this photograph was on the wall in front of me. I was enthralled and determined to find a way to bring it into my collection. I was able to acquire it from Jessica Silverman, who represents him. It is quite large and takes up the entire entry wall of my house. I love it/him. It greets me every day.
WW: What is your advice for aspiring collectors, just getting started?
SS: Go to every gallery show you can and museum exhibitions as well. Read the art magazines. Visit art fairs. Join museum groups. Get to know your gallerists and artists. Save your money to buy art!
What Susan Swig Will See During San Francisco Art Week
Ryan Preciado, “In the Flat Field (memory 3),” 2025, wool, 51/ ¼ x 49 inches, courtesy of Karma.
Ryan Preciado, “In the Flat Field (memory 3),” 2025, wool, 51/ ¼ x 49 inches, courtesy of Karma.
WW: What are you looking forward to most at FOG?
SS: Well, I’m biased as I curate the FOG talks. I’m proud of the slate of talks we have planned for this iteration of the Fair. The lineup of artists, thought leaders, and gallerists is stunning, and I expect the talks will be energizing and insightful.
WW: What are the exhibitions in San Francisco you won’t miss?
SS: Suzanne Jackson’s beautiful exhibition curated by Jenny Gheith at SFMOMA. Suzanne is also speaking in a FOG talk on Saturday at 3 pm with the artist Alteronce Gumby and independent curator Larry Ossei-Mensah. You also shouldn’t miss ICA’s inaugural activation at the Transamerica Pyramid with a site-responsive project EARTHSEED DOME by Lily Kwong and STRATAGEM, a sculptural installation by Tara Donovan. Lily will be speaking at FOG on Sunday in a talk about public and private collaborations, along with Ali Gass, director of ICA SF, and Ned Segal, Chief of Housing and Development of the City and County of SF.
WW: Who is the artist you’re most excited about right now?
SS: Oooh…that’s a tough one. That’s like choosing a favorite child. I can’t do it!
What to Know
Ryan Preciado, “In the Flat Field (memory 3),” 2025, wool, 51/ ¼ x 49 inches, courtesy of Karma.
Who: Susan Swig is a San Francisco–based arts patron and cultural organizer. She serves on the board of SFMOMA, is a founding board member of ICA San Francisco, and sits on the steering committee of FOG Design + Art, where she curates the fair’s Talks program.
Collection Focus: Contemporary mixture of photography and painting/sculpture.
Based in: San Francisco.
Collecting for: 25 Years.
First piece: A beautiful, colorful little Jennifer Bartlett drawing.
Most recent: A tapestry by Ryan Preciado, In the Flat Field (memory 3), 2025.
