We are among the largest and longest established private practice groups of mixed specialty conservators of art & artifacts, in the US. Established in 1975 by Susan Blakney, founder and Chief Conservator, as a group of painting conservators preserving paintings, painted objects and murals.
Over the years we have evolved to provide preservation to mixed specialties, by adding conservators of paper, photographs, textiles, & frames, to our staff. As a group of highly trained specialists, we have a think tank approach when necessary, treating mixed media contemporary art and a wide range of materials. Visit our web page, www.westlakeconservators.com to learn more about us.
We educate the public and our clients how to preserve their collections long term. We provide preservation and conservation services for fine art and historic artifacts, in museums, private & public collections, municipalities, library's, colleges and universities. Our staff of up to 14, have diverse training, providing an international approach and network for treatments, collection management, disaster recovery, workshops, lectures & lab tours.
In addition to preservation treatments we provide consultations and collection management services for surveys of condition, environment, lighting, storage, transportation and general, for long term planning.
Our documentation and proposed treatments are often used for
successful grant applications.
Susan Blakney graduated from University of Kentucky as an art major in 1969, and followed with a 6 year apprenticeship in London England, with an IIC Fellow, senior paintings conservator, treating many old masters. Returning home to the Finger Lakes region, Susan established West Lake Studio in 1975 and began training her first apprentice Margaret Sutton, who today is Susan's partner.
