LUCIA HEFFERNAN • The Furry Side
December 5 - 19, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, Dec. 5, 4-7pm

CODA Gallery is honored to present "The Furry Side," an exhibition featuring stunning anthropomorphic paintings by Lucia Heffernan. Join us for a reception and an opportunity to meet the artist on Friday, December 5, 4 - 7 pm. The exhibition runs through December 19.

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.

New artwork from exhibition artists will be added below when available.