Heidi

Heidi Tournoux is a multidisciplinary artist, art therapist, and curator based in North Texas whose work has developed through an evolving relationship with the human experience, memory, and the body. One of her earliest formative moments came in childhood, when her grandmother—known more for her sharp edges than softness—offered an unexpected and deeply affirming comment about her drawing ability. That recognition stayed with her, even as she chose a more practical path forward. Growing up in a lower middle class family without access to artistic mentorship, Heidi pursued counseling as a stable career while continuing to make art on the side. Near the end of her undergraduate studies, she discovered art therapy—an intersection that allowed her to bring together creativity and meaningful, people-centered work. She went on to earn her master’s degree in art therapy, grounding her practice in both clinical insight and creative exploration. During her college years, she developed a strong connection to the human figure, particularly through painting and sculpting from live models. These early works emphasized color, form, and an intuitive understanding of the body. Over time, however, access to live models diminished, and as she moved into motherhood and began exhibiting in more public, family-oriented spaces, her work shifted. She explored themes of nostalgia through still life paintings and recurring imagery such as rubber ducks—playful, symbolic references inspired in part by her other grandmother, whose warmth and affection offered a contrasting influence. In the past five years, Heidi’s work has undergone a significant transformation, returning to the figure with greater depth and intention. Influenced by her participation in the Ceramics Mentorship Research Program, as well as years of personal and professional experience, she has developed a more defined voice. Her current focus on ceramic sculpture revisits the human body through the lens of lived experience, exploring the complexities of women’s bodies across time. These works engage themes of trauma, birth, hormonal shifts, perimenopause, menopause, and the often unspoken realities of physical and emotional change. What began as a formal and aesthetic interest in the figure has evolved into a deeply personal and reflective exploration—one informed by both her own life and the stories she has witnessed as an art therapist. Alongside her sculptural work, Heidi continues to create functional ceramics, paintings, and mixed media pieces that reflect her ongoing interest in memory, observation, and the emotional weight of everyday objects and experiences. In addition to her studio practice, Heidi is deeply committed to fostering creative community and advocating for artists. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and curated exhibitions, she creates opportunities for connection and growth. Her work reflects an ongoing belief that art can hold complexity, honor lived experience, and create space for both individual and shared understanding.