By ALYSSA SCHULTZ | March 5, 2018

“Lemon Grove” by Hailey E. Herrera, watercolor, 18”X24” Sold

We are honored to have the work of Hailey Herrera on display in our current exhibit, Retrospective. Retrospective celebrates our first 5 years in Downtown Bryan by bringing together 7 incredible artists who have all shown at SEAD before. Herrera has been a significant part of SEAD Gallery’s history. She has shown her work with us in both 2016 and 2017, and we constantly have a rotation of her prints for sale in the gallery.

Herrera is a watermedia artist, creating her work using methods like watercolor, watercolor batik, ink, and acrylic. A signature of Herrera’s work is bright, vibrant colors that draw the viewer in to her art’s exuberance. The first word that comes to mind when viewing Herrera’s creations is “joy”. Herrera’s spontaneous personality spills over into her work, which is why she enjoys the freedom that watercolors allow her in its layering, colors, and transparency. She has a heart for abstract work, specifically tree/forest abstract landscapes, Texas wildflowers and cacti, and various animals.

When she was seven, Herrera took an art class at school. She very much enjoyed the class and it planted the seed for her love for art, which bloomed many years later. She eventually left her home in South Korea to earn her PhD from Texas A&M University. She then worked for a research scientist and lecturer for a short time before taking community art classes, where her passion for art was reignited. Since then, she says “it has only flourished”.

Herrera’s favorite part of being an artist is the creative process, in which she enjoys planning a piece and imagining how it will turn out. As she moves into the future of her artistic career, she hopes to continue to improve, always guided by what inspires her.

Come see Hailey Herrera’s work on display in Retrospective until March 10.