Issue 1 Artist Spotlight | Claira Heitzenrater
C+B: Who is Claira Heitzenrater?
CH: Claira Heitzenrater (b. 1988) is a painter, printmaker, cat mom, and educator living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She holds an MFA in Painting from Edinboro University (Edinboro, PA USA) and a BFA in Studio Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA USA). She has been featured on the Create Magazine podcast, in issue 13 of Create Magazine, volume 38 of Studio Visit Magazine, and various other publications. She has shown work regionally and internationally, including virtual exhibitions with PxP Contemporary and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, the longest standing arts organization in the USA. She has completed residencies at SparkBox Studio in Picton, Ontario, Canada and the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT, USA.
C+B: What are you long-term creative goals?
CH: My aim in creation is to give life to liminality.
C+B: What other creative outlets do you enjoy or want to try?
CH: I love reading and writing, and trying my hand at various media when I’m able. I’d really like to get more into photography.
Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be, 8” x 10” moon, oil on panel
(Original artwork ©Claira Heitzenrater)
Ideal creative retreat: I’d love to go back to the Vermont Studio Center. New England is ideal for creatives with a darker edge.
Currently inspired by: My favorite creators are mostly dead, ha! I love all artists from the Baroque, Rococo and Pre-Raphaelite periods. I admire a lot of contemporary artists as well, including Aleah Chapin (@aleah_chapin) and Dana Zaltzman (@danazaltzman).
Claira Heitzenrater
