7 Things You Didn't Know About Mary Heilmann

Click through to learn more about the iconic abstract painter [Image]( Each month, we’re spotlighting an artist we love—and whose work is currently live for bidding on [Artnet Auctions](. This month: Mary Heilmann. [Image]( [Image]( Pentimento and Graffiti (2 works), 1998 Est. $4,000–6,000 Untitled, 1995 Est. $60,000–80,000 "I wasn’t one of those children who were gifted at doing artwork. I just made a big mess and I liked that." — Mary Heilmann 1 Born in 1940 in San Francisco, Mary Ann Heilmann received a bachelor’s degree in literature before getting a master’s in ceramics and sculpture. 2 Growing up, Heilmann competed as a diver and later took up surfing. 3 Heilmann first came to prominence in the art world when curators at the Whitney Museum included her work, Ties in My Closet, in the 1972 Annual Exhibition. 4 Although trained as a sculptor and ceramicist, she turned to painting as a medium after studying with [David Hockney]( and subsequently moving to New York in the late 1960s. 5 Heilmann has said that she draws her inspiration from popular culture, including movies, music, books, and street fashion. 6 The Tribeca loft that she has inhabited since 1977 was originally procured by [Richard Serra](, while the shower was installed by [Philip Glass](. 7 Heilmann's painting Lovejoy Jr. (2004) is named after Reverend Lovejoy from "The Simpsons," and the work resembles a detail of a stained glass window in his church. [LEARN MORE]( Bring the art of Mary Heilmann into your home—see what's live for bidding now on [Artnet Auctions](. [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [LinkedIn]( Having trouble viewing this email? Click [here](. This email was sent by Artnet Worldwide Corporation. 233 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY, 10279 To unsubscribe, click [here](. For more information, please contact us at marketing@artnet.com or view the [Artnet Privacy Policy](.