Artist Bio
Heather Carroll is a visual artist and jewelry designer. She grew up helping her grandfather in his jewelry store on Long island, which sparked her appreciation for the beauty found in the smallest of details. This experience laid the foundation for her artistic journey and continues to inspire her work with a sense of wonder and passion for the eclectic while endlessly exploring new techniques and mediums for sharing her art.
She now works out of her studio in Watertown, MA as Rare Bird Aesthetics. Her work as Rare Bird Aesthetics exemplifies her playfulness, love of color and texture, creating compositions that are both distinct and classic. Heather has carved out a niche for herself in the realm of colorful accessories and abstract wall creations.
Rare Bird Aesthetics has been featured at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston Fashion Week, Somerville Open Studios, Gallery Twist, 13 Forest Gallery and is held in many private collections. Her work has been sold at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, as well as cherished Boston area shops such as Magpie, Cambridge Naturals, and A Curated World.
Main Subject
Fiber collage
Materials and Techniques
I’m the type of person who enjoys organization. Whether it’s my grandmother’s fridge, my collection of Ken Brown t-shirts or my home, I find satisfaction and beauty in arrangement. It was from this love that my creative practice originated. Textiles in particular have always stood out to me for their uniquely beautiful quality, and I always prioritize the textile section when on the hunt in thrift stores. This was where I first discovered the hand woven, raffia placemats that would become central to my art. I eventually connected with the makers of these types of mats and now buy directly from the women creating them in Uganda.
I have always found comfort in the process of arranging objects, even as a child playing hours of tetris, curating the walls of my room, and collaging with found materials. TThis same process informs my artistic practice to this day. In addition to repurposing the placemats to create jewelry and home decor, I was also drawn to the resulting bags of scraps in an entirely different way. I begin by methodically organizing them into different piles based on the color palettes, shapes, and cuts, and then assemble them to create abstract colorful patterns. The most exciting part of the creative process for me is finding inspiration in the materials themselves. Often, I don’t know how a piece will look until it’s finished. To me, making art is a practice in organizing something that defies traditional organization to create an object of beauty.
