Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg (born October 6, 1959) is an American artist. She designed the art installation which initially placed over 660,000 miniature white flags on the National Mall to represent every American life lost to COVID-19. During the 17 day exhibition, another 41,000 flags were added due to uptick in COVID deaths in the fall of 2021, bringing the total flags to 701,000.
At the age of 50, Firstenberg “accidentally” became an artist and her first project was a sculptured bust of a woman, in a ceramics class. She works in mixed media, including painting, drawing, welding, neon-tube bending, stone carving, ice sculpting and more.
In 2023, Firstenberg began speaking about the connection between political extremism and addiction, based on research she conducted for the social change art she produces.
alienable right to lifeFreedom Plaza
Washington DC, USA
The Empty Fix Project: Reflect IIRockville Town Square
Rockville, Maryland
The Empty Fix Project: Protect ThemRockville Town Square
Rockville, Maryland
In America: RememberNational Mall
Washington, District of Columbia
In America: How could this happen…DC Armory Mall
Washington, District of Columbia
The Empty Fix Project: Unforgotten and Eyes (two exhibitions)Executive Office Building Plaza, Montgomery County
Rockville, Maryland
One Bethesda Metro Plaza
Bethesda, Maryland
Metro Arts WalkCollaborative Public Art Project: Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Strathmore Hall Foundation,
and Montgomery County Public Schools (MSPS)
Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Plaza
North Bethesda, Maryland
30th Annual Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition,Ice and Snow World, (Invitational)
Harbin, China
21st Annual Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition,Sun Island; (Invitational)
Harbin, China
Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg grew up in South Dakota, one of five children. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA and later received an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Early career moves took her from the pharmaceutical industry to the United States Senate, where she staffed for Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) (1990-1991). For balance, Firstenberg volunteers with the terminally ill. She is married and has three children.