Psychotherapist and photographer Susan Mah studied photography at L’École Parsons in Paris and earned a Master of Fine Arts in photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. In her practice, the artist’s overarching goal is to bring together her interests in clinical social work and photography.  She devotes most of her time and energy to portraits with a special interest in environmental portraiture.  Learn more about Susan Mah.

Started in 2014, the Loss Project is a merging of psychology and photography, an artistic exploration of the human condition as it relates to loss.  This ongoing project serves as art therapy on several levels.  For the artist, it is a manifestation of her own grief experiences.  For subjects in the portraits, it is a safe place to process their thoughts and emotions about death during the modeling process and in receiving their images.  For the audience, it is an opportunity to connect with their sense of loss and grief in a meaningful way.

In seeing the project for the first time, a Facebook follower reported to Susan: “I shared your Loss Project. I love it! So many of them brought joy and sadness. Weirdly, it’s beautiful to know that someone else had felt what you’ve felt…that you’re not alone.”

To communicate the universality of loss across cultures and to honor the feelings of those who grieve, Susan Mah and HealGrief have opened up the Loss Project to the public.

As you journey with grief, you may feel a variety of emotions, such as shock, denial, anger, depression, guilt, or acceptance. At HealGrief, we want you to know that such feelings are normal, change over time, and are ripe for artistic expression. Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, allow your emotions to be expressed through art to release them and heal.