Artist: Lindsey Heiden

Lindsey Heiden, 
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ARTIST BIO

Lindsey Heiden is originally from Illinois. She earned a BFA in painting from Western Illinois University, along with a BA in Spanish and an MFA with an emphasis in ceramics from the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. Heiden is a studio artist and an educator, both in academia and community-based programs. She has exhibited work both nationally and internationally. Heiden has work in permeant collections, a few of them being the Archie Bray Foundation, DeVos Art Museum, and Bay College.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Daydreaming and making up tales is how I spend most of my time in the studio. This act of daydreaming is where the decorations and stories are born. Manifesting into the whimsical ceramic work that I create, through surface motifs and forms. Vases become birds and the flowers that are added continue the story, turning into colorful feathers that extend out of the bird’s head and tail. The jars become owls that once opened up can hold a secret. Larger forms such as platters and bowls are approached in a more painterly manner. I draw on my training as a painter to embellish these forms, adding a narrative with animals or a colorful motif.

All of my work is either pinched or formed using a slump mold. This keeps me close to the form allowing me to manipulate it in a way that includes a back story. Each pinch mark, is a direct connection from my hand to the larger over all narrative that I tell. The imperfections through undulations of the rims and outside of the pots lends themselves to a more tactile way to interact with the work. These imperfections at times challenge me to consider where the painterly decorations go. Resulting in me becoming more present with each brush stroke.