Lucia Heffernan

(American, b. 1966)

My body of work is an expression and exploration of my lifelong fascination with animals. Through my paintings, I seek to give animals a voice and a personality, while making light of our uniquely human existence. By imagining what animals might do if put in human situations, I stage tableaus that shine a spotlight on both their innocence and raw instinct. This collision between animal and human sensibilities creates a whimsical, theatrical, and often humorous world that viewers can relate to on an emotional level.

A graphic designer by trade and an oil painter by design, I am continually experimenting with different styles of contemporary realism that balance my artistic sensibilities, technique, and unique sense of humor. As I evolve, what remains constant is my respect for the animals that inspire me, and my desire to bring a smile to the face of every viewer.

EDUCATION

Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY            BFA                  1985-1989

RECENT EXHIBITIONS (PAST 3 YEARS)

2024

Apr    -   The Philadelphia Show, with Rehs Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Mar   -   CNS - “Art & Soup” – Sandy, UT
Mar   -   Group Show, Rich Art Gallery, Taichung City, Taiwan
Feb   -   The Palm Beach Art Show, Palm Beach, FL
Jan    -   Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL

 

2023

Dec   -   Miami Art Week – Miami, FL
Dec   -   Coda Gallery – “Solo Show” – Palm Desert, CA
Sept  -   Copro Gallery – “10th Annual BLAB Show – group show” – Los Angeles, CA
Jul     -    Salt Lake City Country Club - “The Art of Golf” - Salt Lake City, UT
Jun    -    Abend Gallery - “Wild at Art” – 4 Person Exhibit - Denver, CO
Mar   -    Corey Helford Gallery  - “Secret Longing Group show” curated by Beautiful Bizarre
               – Los Angeles, CA
Mar   -    CNS - “Art & Soup” – Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT
Feb   -   LA Art Show – LA Convention Center,  Los Angeles, CA
Feb   -    Palm Beach Art Show - Palm Beach Convention Center, Palm Beach, FL
Jan    -    Coda Gallery - "Solo Show" -Palm Desert, CA

 

2022

Nov   -    Zions Bank - "Zions Bank Invitational" - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct    -    Baltimore Art and Antique Show - Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Sept  -    Musei San Salvatore Lauro – “Solo Show” - Rome, Italy
Mar   -    Rehs Contemporary - “Beneath the Surface” - New York City, NY
Mar   -    CNS - “Art & Soup” – Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT
Jan    -    LA Art Show – LA Convention Center,  Los Angeles, CA
 

2021

Dec   -   Coda Gallery – “Solo Show” – Palm Desert, CA
Dec   -   Abend Gallery – “Miniatures” Group Show – Denver, CO
Oct    -   Haven Gallery – “Animalia” curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine – Northport, NY
Sep   -   Copro Gallery – “16^th Annual BLAB! Show” -  Santa Monica, CA
Aug   -   LA Art Show – LA Convention Center,  Los Angeles, CA
Aug   -   Nantucket Summer Show – Nantucket, MA
Jun    -    Rehs Contemporary Gallery - "Spirit Animals Solo Show" - New York, NY
Jun    -    Kirk Gallery – “Dreambags and Jaguar Shoes” – Denmark
Jan    -    Abend Gallery - "Online Solo Show" - Denver, CO
Jan    -    Coda Gallery - "Solo Show" -Palm Desert, CA
 

2020

Oct    -    Rehs Contemporary Galleries - "ARC Select 2020" - New York, NY
Sept -    Copro Gallery - "15th Annual BLAB! Show" -Santa Monica, CA
Aug   -    15th Street Gallery - "2 Man Show" -Salt Lake City, UT
Mar   -   Virtual - Art & Soup Celebration - Salt Lake City, UT
Feb   -    Alpine Gallery - 20/20 Group Show - Salt Lake City, UT
Feb   -    LA Art Show - LA Convention Center - Los Angeles, CA

 

2019
Nov - Zions Bank - "Zions Bank Invitational" - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct - Haynes Gallery - "Magic of Realism" - Franklin, TN
Sept - Copro Gallery - "14th Annual BLAB! Show" -Santa Monica, CA
Aug - Copro Gallery - 3 Man Show - Santa Monica, CA
May - 15th Street Gallery - 2 Man show - Salt Lake City, UT
April - Salt Palace - Art & Soup Celebration - Salt Lake City

2018
Nov - Zions Bank - "Zions Bank Invitational" - Salt Lake City, UT
Sept - Copro Gallery - "13th Annual BLAB! Show" - Santa Monica, CA
June - Think Tank Gallery - "Cat Art Show 3" - Los Angeles, CA
May - 15th Street Gallery - "2 Man Show" - Salt Lake Coty, UT
March - Conrad - "Asia Contemporary Art Show" - Hong Kong
March - Bein Art Gallery - "The Cat Show" - Melbourne, Australia
March - Heritage Inn - "Out West Art Show & Sale" - Montana
March - Salt Palace - Art & Soup Celebration - Salt Lake City

2017
Nov - Zions Bank - "Zions Bank Invitational" - Salt Lake City, UT
Sept  - Copro Gallery - "12th Annual BLAB! SHow" - Santa Monica, CA
Sept - Red Cliff Ranch - "Celebration of the Arts" - Heber, UT
Aug - Springville Museum - "Wit and Whimsy" - Springville, UT
Aug - 15th Street Gallery - "2 Man Show" - Salt Lake City, UT
May - Art Influence - One Woman Show - "Wonderland" - Taipei, Taiwan
Mar - Salt Palace - Art & Soup Celebration - Salt Lake City, UT

PUBLICATIONS

2019
Dec - "Artist Focus" - American Art Collector
Nov - "Pinko x Lucia Heffernan" - Telva Magazine, Spain
Nov - Cover of Catalyst Magazine
August - "Animal Instincts" - American Art Collector

2018
Aug - "Artist Focus" - American Art Collector
May - Show Preview - American Art Collector
February - Front Cover - Catalyst Magazine

2017
Nov - "Anthropomorphism" - American Art Collector
May - "Artist Focus" - American Art Collector
Jan - "Chinese Metaphysics" - Front Cover - Catalyst Magazine

2016
Fubiz - The Whimsical Animals of Lucia Heffernan" - http://www.fubiz.net/2016/08/07/the-whimsicalanimals-of-lucia-heffernan/
Aug - "Taking the Plunge" - Catalyst Magazine
May - "Animal Perspective" - American Art Collector
March - "Quirky Animals" - American Art Collector
Jan - "Imaginative Animals" - American Art Collector

AWARDS

2019
ARC Salon - "Apple Music" - Rehs Contemporary Gallery Award
ARC Salon - "Washington Gothic" - Haynes Galleries Award
ARC Salon - "El Toro" - Finalist
Richeson 75 - Animals, Birds & Wildlife - "Sealrio" - Honor Award

2018
ARC Salon - "Gladiator" - Finalist