LUCIA HEFFERNAN
Urban Animals
DEC 6 - 20, 2024
Artist Reception
Friday, Dec 6, 4 - 7pm
 

CODA Gallery is pleased to present "Urban Animals," an exhibition of the fabulous anthromorphic paintings of Lucia Heffernan.  Come meet Lucia at a reception for the artist on Friday, December 6, 4 - 7 pm, during El Paseo's First Friday Art Walk.

Born in Taiwan in 1966, Lucia was inspired by her mother, a watercolor artist and teacher, to start drawing and painting at an early age. After graduating with honors in Fine Arts and Design from Binghamton University in the early 1990s, she founded LDD, a successful, award-winning design agency. In 2000, she moved to Utah and shifted her focus from digital design to oil painting. Lucia's work, rooted in contemporary realism, blends her graphic design background with a love of animals. Lucia often creates vibrant, abstract backgrounds to highlight her subjects, making them “jump out from the canvas.” Her latest series uses animals as metaphors to capture quirky, everyday moments. Lucia has won numerous awards, and her work is collected worldwide. She is a member of Oil Painters of America and the Society of Animal Artists.

"My body of work is an expression of my lifelong fascination with animals, exploring their presence through painting while giving them a voice and personality. By imagining animals in human situations, I create tableaus that highlight both their innocence and raw instinct, blending animal and human sensibilities in a whimsical, theatrical, and often humorous way. As a graphic designer by trade and an oil painter by design, I continually experiment with contemporary realism, balancing technique, artistic sensibility, and a unique sense of humor. Despite my evolution, what remains constant is my deep respect for the animals that inspire me and my desire to bring a smile to every viewer’s face." – Lucia Heffernan

During the reception, enjoy a wine bar featuring organic wines and other beverages, with proceeds benefiting Angel View, a Coachella Valley nonprofit dedicated to serving children and adults with disabilities. A portion of the evening’s art sales will be donated to support Angel View, founded in 1954 at a natural hot mineral water spring in Desert Hot Springs.