Santa Barbara native Susie Anders has specialized in the conservation of three-dimensional objects and sculpture for over 15 years. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and holds a Master of Arts degree with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Art Conservation from Buffalo State College. 

Susie returned to Santa Barbara in 2023 after many years of professional practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she worked extensively with regional institutions including the Louisiana State Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Mobile Museum of Art, the LSU Museum of Art, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Since returning to Santa Barbara, she has continued her work with prominent institutions and private collectors, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Casa Del Herrero, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and two daughters and is deeply committed to serving the conservation needs of the region and its cultural heritage. 

Prior to establishing her private practice, Susie trained and worked in the conservation departments of the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Museum, and The Museum of Modern Art. She is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC). Outside of conservation, Susie is also a practicing artist and examples of her work can be viewed via this website: https://www.susieanders.com.

What is Art Conservation?

Combining the fields of art history, fine art, and science, art conservation is the preservation, restoration, and stabilization of cultural material. While time inevitably affects treasured artworks and artifacts, conservation efforts can slow down the process of deterioration, help preserve original material, and can often improve the visual appearance of artworks.

Conservators are trained in several fields that together form their craft, including: fine art, art history, chemistry, materials science, and preservation. This specific combination of study enables them to assess the condition, deterioration, and appropriate treatment options for each artifact.

Services We Offer:

  • Written treatment proposals, reports, and cost estimates

  • Examination of individual objects and sculptures

  • Conservation treatment for artworks exhibited both indoor and outdoors

  • Custom-made supports and housing for artifact storage

  • Recommendations concerning storage and environmental conditions for artifacts

  • Basic Preservation seminars concerning artifact labeling, handeling, and storage design

  • Referrals to other conservation and museum professionals


What To Expect

Contact Anders Art Conservation via email (susieanders321@gmail.com) or phone to discuss your preservation concerns. An initial meeting involving an examination and assessment of the artifact or collection will follow. A written assessment, treatment proposal, time estimate, and cost estimate will be provided to the client following this initial meeting. The cost estimate for conservation work will be based on an hourly rate, and may also include additional costs for special materials, travel, and further insurance if necessary. All work performed by Anders Art Conservation will be completed in accordance with to the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for the Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (http://aic.stanford.edu).


Additional Resources

For more information about the field of art conservation, including how to find a conservator in your area, grants available for smaller institutions, recent research, and how to become a conservator, visit: https://www.culturalheritage.org.