Mary Beth Heffernan

Mary Beth Heffernan serves as Professor of Sculpture, Photography and Interdisciplinary Art and Department Chair of Art and Art History at Occidental College.

Her educational background includes:

• BFA from Boston University (1987), recipient of the Kahn Career Entry Award
• MFA in Photography from California Institute of the Arts (1994)
• Fellow in the Studio program at the Whitney Independent Study Program (1994-95)

Heffernan's research spans sculpture, photography, and socially engaged interdisciplinary art practices, with significant focus on humanizing medical crises through visual representation. She gained international prominence for the PPE Portrait Project during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, which transformed clinical protective gear into humanized portraits for healthcare workers. Her work critically intersects public health, social justice, and contemporary art, often addressing how visual culture shapes responses to global emergencies. Media coverage of her projects has appeared across major platforms including NPR, BBC, PRI, and the Los Angeles Review of Books.

Her scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Kahn Career Entry Award (Boston University)
• Whitney Independent Study Program Fellowship (1994-95)
• 2010 COLA Individual Artist Fellowship
• Inaugural 2016 PAC/LA Contemporary Artist Grant

Heffernan has secured significant research support through grants from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Durfee Foundation, and Light Work. Her artistic contributions extend to major institutional collections including The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens; Hammer Museum/Grunwald Center; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and New York City Library. She maintains active professional representation through Sloan Projects of Santa Monica and continues to develop socially responsive art practices addressing contemporary health crises.