Resilient | contrasts in texture and reflectance

April 11, 2025

Quick sketches… shimmering glass inlay in layered greens set against light gray concrete textures. Lately, I’ve been revisiting ideas of biophilia—our deep-rooted connection to nature—and exploring how cities and the natural world are intertwined. Urban environments rely on nature for water management, air filtration, food production, and overall resilience. Inspired by authors like Ben Wilson (Urban Jungle), Emma Marris (Rambunctious Garden), and Thomas Rainer & Claudia West (Planting in a Post-Wild World), I’m continuously seeking visual ways to represent nature thriving within the engineered structures of our cities—the ultimate model of resilience.

Resilient 2.2 | glass inlay + concrete textures 20” x 20” c Heather Hancock 2025

And so many directions to go here. First ideas with grayscale and greens. Then what happens with blues or ambers. And could go all the way to pink/purples for a abstract wildflower idea.

Elemental | neutral tone-on-tone

March 11, 2025

Taking time in the studio to experiment with a new body of work: Elemental.

This series focuses on light neutrals, low-contrast palettes, and richly textured surfaces. Inspired by the quiet resilience of nature in urban spaces, the pieces feature dotted lines, abstracted text, and graphic foliage emerging from irregular backgrounds—creating a “vine on concrete” effect. The result is a subtle, minimalist visual language that brings texture, softness, and organic movement into clean, modern spaces.

Each piece offers a way to add visual interest and warmth without overwhelming a space—ideal for residential, hospitality, or wellness settings.

elemental 2 @ 20” x 20” glass inlay. + texture c Heather Hancock 2025

elemental 1.2 thrive 20” x 20” glass inlay. + texture c Heather Hancock 2025

elemental comp1 20” x 20” glass inlay. + texture c Heather Hancock 2025

elemental 1.3 bloom 20” x 20” glass inlay. + texture c Heather Hancock 2025

detail elemental 2 @ 20” x 20” glass inlay. + texture c Heather Hancock 2025

Feb sketching

February 21, 2025

Recently, I came across the striking 1970s brutalist architecture of Snowbird Resort, just outside Salt Lake City. Designed by architect Jack Smith, the buildings seamlessly echo the surrounding mountains and valleys, their bold angles and raw concrete forms blending with the rugged landscape—an incredible fusion of architecture and nature.

The moment I saw it, I envisioned an entire series exploring this dynamic interplay. Here’s a quick sketch of a possible composition—just the beginning of what could unfold.

sketch | winter mountain (inspired by Snow Bird resort) c Heather Hancock 2025

NYC FiDi | Steel + Light + Life

January 30, 2025

New gorgeous shimmery skyline project is headed for framing and then installation in a NYC financial district reception area.

Cities have a unique beauty. This work explores the dynamic interplay between the natural and urban worlds. Skyline views—crafted with creative license for a compelling composition—are focal points where architecture meets nature. Repetitive rhythms and textures of the built environment contrast with the organic diversity of the natural world. In the NYC Financial District, iconic skyscrapers rise alongside playful bursts of greenery, their presence magnified in shimmering reflections off the East River.

VISTA: NYC (Steel, Light + Life) 3@4' x 2.5' glass inlay + concrete c Heather Hancock 2025

detail of VISTA: NYC (Steel, Light + Life) 3@4' x 2.5' glass inlay + concrete c Heather Hancock 2025

Pieces shipped unframed and just received a snapshot of the framed installed pieces.

ENCODE | elevate

January 14, 2025

I love starting off the new year with work heading out the door.

These clients selected 2 existing pieces from the ENCODE series and commissioned a 3rd piece to create a client-specific installation. I re-worked my leaf design to create an abstract version of their logo. This was embossed with white textured concrete. An abstract version of one of the client’s mission words forms the structure of this composition.

ENCODE 3.43 elevate | 20” x 20” glass inlay with concrete textures c Heather Hancock 2025

Vibrant and light-catching glass is balanced with textured concrete, the perfect fusion of urban grit and refined minimalism.

ENCODE 3.43 elevate | 20” x 20” glass inlay with concrete textures c Heather Hancock 2025 photo credit Chicago Art Source

SCAN | customized for a business consulting firm

January 02, 2025

Shimmering glass and embossed textures transform data-inspired imagery into a dynamic, visually engaging installation. Client-specific content is woven into the design, creating a meaningful connection to the space. Iridized glass catches the light, shifting and glimmering as team members move up and down the stairs.

The pieces arrived ready-to-frame.

Scan 10.1 | 3 @ 4’ x 2’ | glass inlay + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

detail Scan 10.1 | 3 @ 4’ x 2’ | glass inlay + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

Scan 10.1 | 3 @ 4’ x 2’ | glass inlay + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024 photo credit Art Advisory

Flourish | urban wildflower

December 31, 2024

Loved getting to do a monochromatic wildflower piece for a residential setting/dining room.

urban wildlfower | 20” x 20” hand cut glass inlay with concrete textures c Heather Hancock 2024

Invited Design proposal | IDOT CDB Art-in-Architecture

December 17, 2024

It’s been a pleasure thinking about how to both celebrate IDOT’s past and future engineering innovations and play a role in traveler rest and restoration at a historic rest stop to be rebuilt near Springfield.

I proposed that biophilia was an important focus for this site, providing a nature-inspired palette and view for attentional re-set. “Connect” re-imagines the highway as providing a connection to the natural world. Remnant prairies found along (secondary) highways were foregrounded for a fresh vista of central IL.

Connect2A northbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2B southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Connect2c southbound 3@72”x30” concept for glass+concrete installation c Heather Hancock 2024

Philly inspired architectural installation | new ideas

December 12, 2024

REFLECT 4.13 distills the architecture of downtown Philadelphia into a four-part series, capturing the interplay of line, rhythm, and dimensional shifts. Layers of refracted light and urban textures create a dynamic visual experience, balancing abstraction with architectural precision. Each piece explores transitions—between structure and space, shadow and reflection—offering a fresh perspective on the built environment.

REFLECT 4.13 | each 30” x 30” | glass inlay with concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

REFLECT 4.13c refracted | 30” x 30” | glass inlay with concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

REFLECT 4.13d urban textures | 30” x 30” | glass inlay with concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

Available inventory | Dec 2024

December 10, 2024

These are small collages of city and nature, line and light. Fragments from the everyday: text and architecture, paint and texture, shimmer and foliage.

urban moments | each 20” x 20” | glass inlay with concrete textures c Heather Hancock

ENCODE 3.38 bloom | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

ENCODE 3.39 thrive | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

ENCODE 3.14 thrive | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

ENCODE 3.19 build | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

ENCODE 3.40 grow | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 6.3 | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

GROW 5.1 | 20” x 20 | glass inlay + concrete texture c Heather Hancock

My interest in the lines of architecture is ongoing. Borrowing from the material vocabulary of contemporary architecture these pieces are realized in shimmering glass and matte concrete to offer a fresh perspective.

REFLECT 1.55 | REFLECT 1.36 abstract mies | each 24”x24” | glass inlay with concrete texture c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.18 black grid | REFLECT 1.54 shadows | each 24”x24” | glass inlay with concrete texture c Heather Hancock

new architectural project ...history in the details

November 20, 2024

A new architectural installation is in progress, celebrating Denver's historic 1904 Evans School House and its Gothic Revival design. Vacant since the 1970s, the school is now being reimagined as a hub for dining, retail, and creative spaces alongside a modern residential tower.

Inspired by the building’s intricate brick and terra cotta details, the artwork captures its rich textures and craftsmanship. The pieces feature a refined palette of warm honey ambers, silver, black, and a touch of Denver’s blue sky. The installation includes two striking 4’ x 4’ panels and a complementary 2.5’ x 4’ piece, seamlessly connecting past and present within the new development.

The pieces were expedited for a fast ship by date with a 3 week turn around time. I’m looking forward to final pix of these installed.

History in the details | hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024
2 @ 4’ x 4’

History in the details | hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024
2.5’ x 4’

History in the details. REFLECT 4.12a 4’x 4’ | hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

History in the details. REFLECT 4.12b 2.5x 4’ | hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

History in the details. REFLECT 4.12c 4’x 4’ | hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

VISTA: forest + city

October 10, 2024

Ah. Love LOVE this crisp new skyline of midtown Atlanta from the pond at Piedmont (with some creative license taken of course). A colorful mural installed on the exterior of the client’s building is captured in a colored glass detail. The whole effect is crisp and fresh with buildings sketched in gray and silvery black, foliage in layered greens (lime, celadon and olive) and a shimmery reflection on the pond’s surface. The “avalanche white” background feels bright and light, very Atlanta.

The pieces are headed for installation in the lobby of a new construction multi-family building. Can’t wait for install pix!

VISTA: ATL | 3@40”x24” hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

detail | VISTA ATL c Heather Hancock 2024

lake michigan inspo

September 18, 2024

I always find inspo in Lake Michigan. Circling back to ideas for water imagery.

sketch graphic lake03 c Heather Hancock 2024

lake + prairie sketch4a c Heather Hancock 2024

lake + prairie sketch 5a c Heather Hancock 2024

OK. Loving this graphic approach. More to come.

summer inspo + sketching

September 09, 2024

Spring and summer travel included hiking in Colorado, exploring Palm Springs and Encinitas, wandering in Vancouver and a visit to Tofino on Vancouver Island. So much to think about…

sketch2 chesterman beach Tofino BC c Heather Hancock 2024

sketch 3 Tofino BC c Heather Hancock 2024

Other summer inspo and sketching that I’d love to explore further…

sketch: shoreline c Heather Hancock 2024

sketch lake + prairie c Heather Hancock 2024

sketch4 wildflowers crop1 c Heather Hancock 2024

watercolors…exploring palette and light, transitions and connections.

currently working on another skyline

August 27, 2024

Delighted to come back to another skyline project…this one features a crisp white background with grays+silvers alongside lush layered greens. A desaturated palette on silver gray background creates a graphic reflection off Piedmont pond on the bottom section. More soon.

August 26, 2024

soaking up every minute of summer…lots of paddling on lake michigan after work!! which turns into inspo of course.

concept prairie grasses v1 c Heather Hancock 2024

REFLECT looking up

August 14, 2024

I recently got to explore this new “looking up’ view based on 1271 Ave of the Americas in NYC. This plan is for the pieces to be framed in black and hang in a home office.

REFLECT 4.11 looking up 2@2.5’x2’ glass inlay and concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

detail REFLECT 4.11 looking up 2@2.5’x2’ glass inlay and concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

Install pix | REFLECT 4.10

July 12, 2024

Love getting install pix. Here are the REFLECT pieces created for a Denver based residential developer. Compositions were developed based on the developer’s portfolio to create a grouping for their lobby. The focus is on the various peaked rooflines to echo the surrounding mountain ranges that form the dramatic backdrop to Denver.

REFLECT 4.10 ‘home’ | 4@2’ x 2’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024 photo credit: Nine Dot Arts

REFLECT 4.10 ‘home’ | 4@2’ x 2’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2024

Get in touch

ShoutOut Colorado

June 05, 2024

Delighted to see this article about my work posted on ShoutoutColorado

read full article here (it is slow to load btw!)

Here are some (condensed) highlights but you can find the full interview + images of recent projects here.

ShoutOut CO: Walk us through the thought-process of starting your business.

I began my journey in healthcare as a speech-language pathologist and later as director of rehabilitation, providing innovative care to help people return to health and life. Realizing that well-being extends beyond physical health, I combined my understanding of human cognition with my passion for art to establish my own studio.

My goal is to infuse spaces—homes, offices, hotels, and healthcare facilities—with energy and vitality through bold contrasts and shimmering reflectance, enhancing well-being and inspiring those who encounter my work.

ShoutOut CO: Tell us more about your art, what are you excited about these days?

My art blends glass inlay with rugged concrete textures to create dimensional pieces that dance with light and transform with movement. Drawing from my healthcare background, I infuse my work with ideas and vibrancy, inspired by the intersection of nature and urban landscapes. I aim to help people see the world in new ways, finding beauty in unexpected places and staying connected with nature.

ShoutOut CO: What do you want the world to know about you and your work?

I believe in creating spaces where everyone can flourish. Art goes beyond decoration; it’s a vital component of living well, fostering growth, connection, and enrichment.