Lee Heinen (b.1937)
Hanging Out in Havana, 2018
Materials: Oil and mixed media on canvas, 40 x 36”
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Fourth Floor, Hallway Outside Patient Rooms H4-134 and H4-135
About the Art and Artist
Lee Heinen’s Hanging Out in Havana exemplifies her exploration of human connection through body language and facial expression. Drawing inspiration from her travels, Heinen captures moments of conversation, inviting the viewer to imagine the dialogue unfolding between her subjects. Her approach simplifies form, shaping figures with broad, gently rounded areas of unmodulated color reminiscent of early 20th-century posters and the styles of Alex Katz and Milton Avery, two of Heinen’s key influences. This pop-inspired treatment not only emphasizes composition and drawing but also enhances the expressive potential of her subjects.
While facial features may be subtly suggested or left undefined, Heinen delights in the intricate details of accessories such as shoulder bags, jewelry, and the elegant asymmetry of a long necklace, elements that add depth to the scene. The collaged fabric in a figure’s pants reinforces Heinen’s mixed-media approach. The painting’s title reveals its setting: a Havana balcony. Here, the interplay between the U.S. flag motif in the headscarf of one figure and the Cuban backdrop introduces a layer of irony, situating the conversation within a historical and cultural dialogue.
Heinen studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursuline College. She further honed her skills at the Instituto de Allende in Mexico and through a workshop with Wolf Kahn in Maine. Throughout her career, she has explored multiple styles, including the pop-art figural approach seen in this piece and a more abstract, gestural style that emerged from repurposing older canvases. Recognized for her contributions to the arts, Heinen received an Individual Artist’s Award for Excellence from the Ohio Arts Council.
Where to See More of This Artist’s Work
Lee Heinen’s paintings and prints can be viewed on her website and are archived with the Artists’ Archives of the Western Reserve, where she serves on the board. Her work is represented by galleries in Akron and Cleveland, and she has exhibited in solo, and group shows throughout Northeast Ohio, as well as in California and Connecticut. Heinen’s art is held in numerous corporate collections, including University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, the Bank of America in Wilmington, Delaware, the Cuyahoga County Administration Building, the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, and the Glidden House in Cleveland. In 2018, she published American Family Album, a series of paintings inspired by vintage family photographs.