By Krystle J Bailey
“Art makes you pay attention to the things that you wouldn’t normally stop to think about or experience,” expressed Atlantic City-based artist Heather Deegan Hires.
The Egg Harbor Township native challenges boundaries and pushes her artistry outside of the proverbial box at every opportunity. From full-scale murals in new restaurants to using an entire body as her canvas, Heather’s artistry stops people in their tracks and challenges traditional thinking.
I sat down with Heather to experience her creative process firsthand and was taken on an unexpected and beautiful journey. In a recent conversation with Jim Dessicino of Union Hall Arts, he made a point that “it’s all art,” explaining that words, food, and experiences are all different forms of artistic expression.
That sentiment was brought to life as I sat with Heather in her second-story condo, offering my body as her canvas and allowing our worlds to collide. Each beautifully painted word fell from my lips directly onto my skin as I spoke. I watched her magic unfold in real time as she created live, custom artwork from the crevices of my neck to the tips of my toes. Following hours of words becoming art and art becoming words, the day culminated in a photoshoot by Heather’s boyfriend and business partner, photographer Ruben Garcia. The backdrop: a collage of works that I’ve written over the years.
“I wanted to think outside of the box,” explained Hires, who began body painting over a decade ago.
Her body painting career began when her now adult sons were younger, and Heather jumped in to fill face painting requests at their elementary school. Always drawn to the arts, Heather’s life took an unexpected turn in high school, hindering her plans of attending art school. As life would have it, she ultimately found her way back to the art scene. Face painting led to body painting, which led Heather to the Atlantic City arts culture, where she has since thrived as an artist, completing several ARTeriors exhibitions, live body painting shows, and local murals.
“Everything I do inspires me to create something,” explained the former substitute teacher. “Creativity finds its way into whatever I’m doing, whether it’s the different seasons, the time of year, or the music I’m listening to, then I bring all the elements together to create a higher sense of creative expression.”
When it comes to artistic expression, movement is a key component in Heather’s work, which she explains, “body painting brings to fruition.” The sensual, edgy, unexpected nature of live body painting stops people in their tracks and forces them to think outside of the box. Heather has created live body art on stages throughout Atlantic County, including her recent contribution to the 2023 Nuestro Pueblo Awards.
“The artists are the ones who create out of passion and love for the way they see the world,” shared Hires during our interview. “In hopes someone else will love it the way we do. So much love goes into every single thing that we create.”
Heather recently became a recognized Strobe Signature Artist with Art C, an organization dedicated to promoting the arts and artists in Southern New Jersey. She and Ruben Garcia have an upcoming art show on September 15 at the Rennaisance Art Center in Millville, featuring their collaborative work and select canvas pieces from Heather’s portfolio.
Beyond the extravagant and detailed art displays that Heather produces, it’s the healing behind the art that matters most to her.
“If you allow yourself to experience it, art is immersive,” explained Hires. “It’s healing. We’re all so busy in life that we don’t always stop to have special moments like that. As an artist, I have to create for my well-being.”
Heather is available for commissioned murals, canvas paintings, live performance art, body painting, face painting, and collaborative photoshoots. Visit Heather at www.heatherart.vpweb.com or on Instagram @bodypaintingbyheather and @heatherartz_.
Photo credit: Ruben Garcia, @thephotographyofrubengarcia.
