Speed, from Chicago, dropped out of RISD and, over time, taught herself to paint. There are often incongruous juxtapositions in her work. Lord, did I just write that? But that is what it seems like to me, a vague absurdity mixed with anger and violence. The subjects in her paintings often look pissed off (even though Suzannah, here, is apparently only annoyed).
There is also something classical in some of her pieces, maybe even a whiff of Hieronymous Bosch. You can, and should, find out more at www.juliespeed.com.