Artist Statement
Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury makes it challenging to find the right words at times. Yet, through my creations I can convey my true thoughts and feelings. In March 2020, I discovered I have a rare hereditary inflammatory disorder that leads to severe joint pain and swelling, prompting me to adapt my artistic practice to suit my fluctuating health. While the days of using a ruling pen have passed, I've embraced new, creative methods of expression.
Art has transformed into more just beauty for me; it serves as a healing form of communication between myself and the audience. My "disability" has become both my muse and mentor, inspiring an evolving style of contemporary abstract expressionism that I never imagined I could achieve.
Artist Bio
Loretta Oberheim is a distinguished artist hailing from Ronkonkoma, New York, for her tactile, three-dimensional artworks. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile Design from Fashion Institute of Technology in 2006 and has forged a successful career in high-end floorcovering sector, which informs her artistic practice.
Her creations explore themes of mental health and disability, drawing inspiration from her experience as a carpet designer, abstract expressionism, and the lively street art of NYC. This exploration has prompted her to the intricacies of her identity and mental wellness.
Oberheim art has been exhibited internationally in esteemed locations such as the Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Belskie Museum of Art, Tortuga Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art of Long Island, and One Art Space Gallery. She has also made an appearance on TLC's "Unpolished."
Her narrative and artistic development have been highlighted in various blogs and publications, including Faces of Long Island, TBR News Media, and The Art Queens AQ Quarterly - Volume 1.
Residing in her Long Island home, Oberheim creates her works with the companionship of her devoted studio assistants—her dogs.