Suzanne Ramljak
Vice President of Collections & Curatorial Affairs Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
- Grand Rapids MI
Suzanne Ramljak oversees the acquisition and siting of the permanent collection and curation of engaging exhibitions at Meijer Gardens.
Linkedin Profile
Biography
Ramljak has worked in the curatorial departments of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Her many curated exhibitions include "Romancing the Brain"; "Case Studies: Art in a Valise"; "Natural Wonders: The Sublime in Contemporary Art"; and "Mark Dion & Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld". Among the exhibitions she has curated since coming to Meijer Gardens are "Forest of Dreams: Contemporary Tree Sculpture"; "David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture"; "Busted: Contemporary Sculpture Busts"; and "Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism".
A contributor to numerous publications, Ramljak’s writing on art has appeared in "The New York Times Book Review" and "Utne Reader" among other periodicals and magazines. In addition to exhibition catalogues, her books include "On Body & Soul: Contemporary Amulets to Armor" and "Loaded: Guns in Contemporary Art".
Ramljak holds a BA and MA degree in Art History from the University of Michigan and completed her doctoral studies at the Graduate Center, City University of New York.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Todi Arts Studio Curatorial Residency - Summer 2025
Todi Arts Studio, former home and studio of Beverly Pepper, at Villa Zefiro provides residencies to established and globally respected sculptors and arts professionals, giving them a quiet place to work on a new project or idea or simply to be inspired by the beauty and tranquility of the Umbrian countryside and the magnificent hill town of Todi.
Education
The Graduate Center, City University of New York
M.Phil.
Art History
University of Michigan
M.A.
Art History
University of Michigan
B.A.
English Literature & Art History
Affiliations
- AICA - International Association of Art Critics
- College Art Association
- International Sculpture Center (ISC) : Member, Board of Trustees
Media Appearances
Nick Cave’s New Monument Is for the Birds—Literally
Artnet online
2025-10-30
"Amalgam (Origin)" marks the artist’s first public outdoor sculpture, recently installed at the sweeping 158-acre main campus of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and joining the institution’s permanent collection of over 300 sculptures as its largest figurative work. A creative evolution of his iconic “Soundsuits,” the towering bronze figure conveys a powerful sense of calm and solemn composure—an otherworldly sentinel that, through compositional and material weightiness, evokes themes of protection and sanctuary.
Nick Cave’s “Amalgam (Origin)” Looms Over the Frederik Meijer Gardens
NewCity online
2025-11-10
Suzanne Ramljak, Frederik Meijer Gardens’ vice president of collections, sees the piece as a new kind of monument and pilgrimage site. “We could call this a monumental sculpture,” says Ramljak. “It’s not just a monument to an individual, event or war, it’s really a monument to life force.”
'Amalgam (Origin)' becomes permanent installation at Meijer Gardens
The Detroit News print
2025-10-08
"Now that 'Amalgam (Origin)' has been integrated within the natural environment, the work’s catalytic power has been fully activated,” said Suzanne Ramljak, who is vice president of Collections & Curatorial Affairs at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. “Nick Cave’s epic sculpture will stand as a monument to individual and collective strength, and to our profound rootedness in nature.”
Towering bronze sculpture from famed Chicago artist coming to Meijer Gardens
MLive/Grand Rapids Press online
2025-09-17
Suzanne Ramljak, vice president of collections & curatorial affairs at Meijer Gardens, said Amalgam (Origin) marks a return to Cave’s “artistic origins.”
“The sculpture’s branching crown and wooded site harken back to his very first Soundsuit, made of discarded twigs, while recalling the primal sustenance of nature itself,” she said.
Face-to-face: Meijer Gardens’ “BUSTED” exhibit revolutionizes the way we see our shared humanity
Rapid Growth Media online
2025-06-25
Curated by Suzanne Ramljak, vice president of collections and curatorial affairs, BUSTED offers visitors a rare, intimate encounter during a time when our well-documented loneliness epidemic persists.
“This show is designed for people,” Ramljak says. “It’s about people. And there’s certainly someone for everyone in this group – all from the waist up, mind you.”
David Smith: Sculpting space, nature, and legacy at Meijer Gardens
Rapid Growth Media online
2024-12-11
Suzanne Ramljak, vice president of collections and curatorial affairs at Meijer Gardens, shared insights into Smith’s artistry during his brief career, as the artist died unexpectedly in 1965 at the age of 59.
“Smith’s ability to draw out the metal as a narrow line allowed him to articulate form while simultaneously framing and enveloping the background,” Ramljak explained as we toured this vast exhibition that extended from the gallery onto the rooftop garden. “It is as if he drew a line around the space, making it an integral part of the composition.”
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Author Appearance
Articles
Nick Cave - "Amalgam (Origin)"
Nick Cave "Amalgam (Origin)" Reveal GuideSuzanne Ramljak
2025-09-15
Overview by Suzanne Ramljak of Nick Cave’s first public outdoor sculpture, "Amalgam (Origin)", which made its home in the permanent sculpture collection of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.


















