Susann Toggenburger: Contemporary Drawing and Artistic Visual Language

Susann Toggenburger is a contemporary artist based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, whose work primarily centers on the medium of drawing. To Susann Toggenburger, drawing is much more than a technique; it is a fundamental 'form of thinking on paper.' This philosophical approach allows her to explore the intersections of material, time, and perception. Her creative inspiration is drawn from what she describes as the 'injuries of the days' and the 'power of wear,' elements that manifest in the textures and layered resistance of her chosen materials. Born in Winterthur in 1956, Susann Toggenburger spent a significant portion of her career in art education and design before dedicating herself fully to her independent artistic practice in 2014. Her archive reflects a consistent commitment to the evolution of visual language, featuring distinct bodies of work produced between 2020 and 2025. In her drawings, Toggenburger finds fascination in the tension between the everyday nature of the medium and the elusive legibility of the final image. This results in artworks that invite close inspection of their physical properties and the subtle narratives of attrition they convey. Susann Toggenburger has participated in numerous exhibitions in the Ostschweiz region, including notable projects at the Hiltibold platform for current art and the open art museum in St. Gallen. Her work is characterized by a deep engagement with the unyielding qualities of paper and graphite, pushing the boundaries of traditional graphic art. By making her unique 'ways of seeing' visible, she offers a profound meditation on the resistance and possibilities inherent in the artistic process.