As an artist, I am deeply concerned about the impact that human consumption and waste have on our environment. My work centers around the transformation of discarded vinyl advertising banners into works of art that reveal a connection between our consumption habits and the environmental waste we leave behind.

Each banner holds its own cultural history and significance, and my goal is to capture and communicate that history through my art. Using meticulous hand-cutting techniques, I fracture the initial image of the banner, disrupting its central intent and repurposing it into something new. The colors and shapes of the banners are sorted and brought together to create weavings, collages, or three-dimensional wall sculptures. The final piece often bears little resemblance to the original banner, having been transformed into a complex abstract shape with a unique color scheme.

Through my art, I strive to promote awareness, provoke dialogue, and inspire action. My intention is to encourage viewers to reflect on their own consumption habits and consider the impact of their actions on the environment.

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Bio
​Shelley Heffler was born and raised in the Bronx. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where she studied interior design, and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art. She graduated from Cal State Northridge with a Master’s degree in Fine Art, followed by a teaching credential.
Shelley traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, photographing the lives of fascinating people and the rich cultural landscapes they inhabit. Upon returning from her travels, she settled in Los Angeles, where she taught ceramics and fine art for over 25 years with the L.A. Unified School District. Additionally, she was an adjunct professor at Otis College of Art and Design, a Nationally Board-Certified Professional Educator, and a mentor teacher.
Her exhibition history includes shows at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Rental Gallery, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, and various group shows across the United States. Her work has been reviewed in publications such as the British magazine Hedge, the Los Angeles Times, LA Independent, Daily News, San Diego Tribune, and San Diego Art Review. She was nominated for the Awards for the Visual Arts and received a Fellowship from Funds for Teachers. Her paintings and photographs are held in collections across the United States, and she has been identified as “One to Watch” on Saatchi Online and featured in “Art Pins”.
Since the pandemic, Shelley has spearheaded outstanding community outreach programs. One such project, "We Are Home," involved the creation of 130 quilt pieces by members of the Los Angeles community during the Covid-19 pandemic. These pieces were donated and auctioned to benefit the unhoused. This initiative led to her being contacted by the Inglewood Community Arts Commission and hired through an NEA grant for the Artist in Residency at Inglewood’s Rogers Park. There, she led the "It Takes a Village" quilt project, bringing the Inglewood community together.
She recently completed an installation of 31 pieces of suspended art in a New York City lobby. Currently, her studio is located in the Perez Art District in Cathedral City, California.
These works are one-of-a-kind original work of art. All copyrights and reproduction rights are retained by the artist and may not be reproduced by any process or medium without express permission form the artist.