Susan O’Malley: Do More of What You Love
Co-curated with Kevin B. Chen. San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries: Main Gallery. January - May 2016
Do More of What You Love inaugurates the San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries’ expanded 3,000-square-foot space in the historic War Memorial Veterans Building with a solo exhibition dedicated to the work of Susan O’Malley. The show offers a cross-section of her practice, from her community-based projects and iconic inspirational signs to her participatory Pep Talk Squad. O’Malley centers her artistic voice on the power and complexity of language, using simple yet profound messages to reflect on how we relate to ourselves, one another, and the environments we inhabit—from suburban lawns to forest landscapes. Through these works, she reveals how small gestures of encouragement and reflection can ripple outward, touching individual lives and communities alike.
Presented in collaboration with O’Malley’s estate, this exhibition marks the first time her work is mounted following her untimely passing in 2015. It stands as both a celebration and a remembrance, honoring her vibrant creativity, her generosity as a curator, and the enduring resonance of her spirit. As the SFAC Galleries enters a new chapter in its history, Do More of What You Love affirms the profound impact of O’Malley’s vision and her lasting legacy of optimism, humor, and care.
We would like to thank Susan's family and closest friends for their support of this exhibition.
About Susan O'Malley
Susan O’Malley (1976 - 2015) was a socially engaged artist and curator whose work invited people to pause, reflect, and connect through acts of everyday kindness and shared wisdom. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she used simple, bold text and familiar formats—such as posters, buttons, and public signage—to deliver messages that were direct, hopeful, and often drawn from the voices of others. Her celebrated project Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self transformed interviews with people of all ages into brightly colored text works that offered life lessons both humorous and profound. O’Malley’s work was grounded in the belief that art could be accessible, generous, and transformative—whether encountered in a gallery or on the sidewalk.
In addition to her artistic practice, O’Malley was a dedicated curator and community builder. She organized exhibitions and print projects that championed inclusion, dialogue, and the creative potential of collaboration. A graduate of Stanford University and California College of the Arts, she blended intellectual rigor with emotional warmth, and her projects often invited participation from strangers, neighbors, and students alike. Susan O’Malley passed away unexpectedly in 2015, just before giving birth to twin daughters, leaving behind a powerful legacy of love, humor, and radical optimism that continues to inspire artists and audiences around the world.