Mary Beth Heffernan

Mary Beth Heffernan is a Professor in Art & Art History at Occidental College, appointed in 2002. She holds a BFA from Boston University and MFA from California Institute of the Arts, and was a Fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program in 1995.

• B.F.A., Boston University (1987)
• M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts (1994)
• Fellow, Whitney Museum of American Art (1994-95)

Her practice interrogates the intersection of physicality and representation through sculpture, photography, and social practice. Key themes include bodily transcription into media, language's physical force, and gaps in communication. The PPE Portrait Project (2014) gained international acclaim for humanizing healthcare workers during Ebola and later in the COVID-19 pandemic via collaborations with institutions like Stanford Medical School and UMASS Memorial Medical Center. Supported by grants including the PAC/LA Contemporary Artist Grant (2016) and COLA Individual Artist Fellowship (2010), her work resides in collections such as the Hammer Museum and LACMA.

Her recent articles and projects focus on art's role in pandemic response, affective exchange, and material culture. Scientific awards include recognition from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the Durfee Foundation.