Shelley Heffler
Cathedral City, CA
Process and paradox are the core issues in my work, while the materials fuel and inspire me. Urban environment and passage of time are elements I explore.
MessageShelley Heffler's art practice is rooted in her lifelong passion for maps, which began as a young girl navigating the subways of NYC. Drawing inspiration from cartography, digital imagery from NASA, and topography, she creates works that explore the interconnectedness of the world in terms of human values and experiences.
Heffler's use of thick acrylic paint and gestural brushwork creates richly layered surfaces that reveal the underlying history of paint application. Her work often challenges the boundaries of traditional painting by transforming canvases into sculptural forms. Her sculptures confront the unsettling engagement of human alterations to land and earth, drawing inspiration from science and ecological systems.
Heffler's education and extensive travel have influenced her artistic perspective. She holds a Master's degree in fine art from Cal State Northridge and has taught ceramics and fine art in the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 25 years. Her work has been exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States, and she has received recognition and awards for her art, including a Fellowship from Funds for Teachers.
Heffler's dedication to her art practice is evident in her recent retirement from teaching to focus solely on her work in her studio at the Perez Art and Design Plaza in Cathedral City, California. Her paintings and photographs are held in many collections across the United States, and her recent recognition as "One to Watch" on Saatchi Online is a testament to her growing influence in the art world.
Statement
As an artist, I am deeply concerned about the impact that human consumption and waste have on our environment. My work centers around the transformation of discarded vinyl advertising banners into works of art that reveal a connection between our consumption habits and the environmental waste we leave behind.
Each banner holds its own cultural history and significance, and my goal is to capture and communicate that history through my art. Using meticulous hand-cutting techniques, I fracture the initial image of the banner, disrupting its central intent and repurposing it into something new. The colors and shapes of the banners are sorted and brought together to create weavings, collages, or three-dimensional wall sculptures. The final piece often bears little resemblance to the original banner, having been transformed into a complex abstract shape with a unique color scheme.
Through my art, I strive to promote awareness, provoke dialogue, and inspire action. I believe that art has the power to transcend language and cultural barriers, and can communicate complex issues in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking. My hope is that my art will encourage viewers to reflect on their own consumption habits and consider the impact of their actions on the environment.
This work is a one-of-a-kind original piece. All copyrights and reproduction rights are retained by the artist and may not be reproduced by any process or medium without express written permission from the artist.
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