Heide Follin (b. 1954) creates abstract, lyrical paintings that translate the textures and rhythms of gardens, landscapes, and botanical forms into emotive, vibrant compositions. Moving fluidly between control and spontaneity, she builds intricate, layered surfaces through a rich vocabulary of mark-making—brushes, pens, bamboo tools, scraping, pouring—and often incorporates fabric, such as painted chiffon, into her canvases. These mixed-media elements enhance the tactile and visual depth of her work, allowing color, texture, and translucency to shimmer and interact in unexpected ways.

A graduate of the School of the Worcester Art Museum, Follin has continued her artistic exploration through advanced studies, workshops, and residencies at venues including Yellow Chair Salon, NYC Crit Club, CritLab, PAFA, MassArt, the Silvermine School of Art, The New School/NY, and the Vermont Studio Center. Based at Wilson Avenue Loft Artists in South Norwalk, Connecticut, she maintains an active studio practice and exhibits widely in solo and curated group shows. Recent highlights include the solo exhibition Botanical Paradigm (Silvermine Galleries, 2025), Stories (Moira Fitzsimmons Arons Art Gallery, 2023), and participation in Biophilia (Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT, 2025). Follin has also been recognized with the Board Chairs Award in Silvermine’s prestigious A•ONE exhibition.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I transform inspiration from nature into lyrical organic abstraction. Working in the fluid space between control and the need to be free, my paintings burst from the bounds of the specific to reveal patterns and new worlds to explore.

Photographs of botanical specimens and landscapes are my jumping off point. Energetic forms call out to me as I wander through the garden. I spy a cluster of shepherd hooks with their fuzzy heads bobbing in the wind, which morph into waving arms. I find delight in what’s hidden in the shadows and embrace the vibrant florals and intricate foliage. The glint of sun on the chicken wire becomes strokes of dancing blue lines.

I use color, drawing and paint to describe natural phenomena. I embrace the surprising results that happen through experimentation. Empowered by personal expression through abstraction, my work is infused with the rhythm of life. I work with acrylics, acrylic polymers, black ink — even layering fabric onto a variety of substrates. Surfaces may be both matte and gloss, thin and fluid, thick and juicy, textured and smooth. The work evolves through staining, brushing and pouring paint in a high-key palette that vibrates against neutrals.