ABOUT | htrepanier

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

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In this series, I explore the unseen, the subterranean, and the transformative processes that occur in darkness. Like mycelium spreading beneath the forest floor, these works are nurtured by shadows and obscurity. I am fascinated by things that thrive in the dark—roots, fungi, internal organs, and the subconscious. The depth and complexity of these forms serve as metaphors for the hidden, often unconscious processes of the mind, urging us to look deeper, beyond the surface.

There is hope in things that grow in the dark. Mycelium, for instance, silently regenerates and connects ecosystems, hidden from view, yet essential to life. This quiet persistence in darkness speaks to the potential for growth and renewal, even when unseen. My work reflects this belief in the transformative power of what is hidden, in the idea that darkness can nurture life and creativity rather than stifle it.

These paintings are intended to be experienced in person. Their nuance resists a digital format where the detail is completely missed, swallowed by the darkness of the background. In an era where so much art is consumed through screens, I want my work to be a reminder of the richness that comes from being physically present, of the subtle details that emerge when you stand close, allowing your eyes to adjust as though you’re entering a darkened room. My work invites a quiet, intimate engagement, where contemplation and proximity reveal the hidden life that thrives beneath the surface, offering hope and potential in what is often overlooked.

BIOGRAPHY

b. Racine, Wisconsin, 1969

A student of natural sciences, Heide switched to fine arts as the focus of her study in 1992. She Graduated with a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1995, and an MFA in Painting at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. She is currently a Ph.D. ABD in Philosophy, Art and Critical Thought at The European Graduate School. Her work has been exhibited extensively in the US and internationally, and is part of collections at The Virginia Museum of Fine Art, The Speed Museum in Kentucky, and many corporate and private collections. Heide has received fellowships from The Pollock/Krasner Foundation, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The American Academy of Arts and Sciences among others. She was most recently Director of The Temple of the Cosmic Mothership, an artist collective and community center and an adjunct professor of drawing at Old Dominion University.

She currently lives and works in Richmond, Virginia