Heather York

Artist Member

Heather York

Bio

Heather York, MFA Student at Maine College of Art & Design

Heather is a multidisciplinary artist based in Windham, Maine, working in handmade books, letterpress printmaking, and mixed media. Her practice emphasizes the material and structural possibilities of the book form, with a focus on tactile processes and the integration of text and image.

Heather earned a BFA in Printmaking and Photography from Old Dominion University and pursued graduate study at California State University, Fresno. She is currently enrolled in the  MFA program at Maine College of Art & Design, where she plans to further develop her work in letterpress, bookbinding, and interdisciplinary print practices.

In addition to her studio practice, Heather has over 20 years of teaching experience in both community and academic settings. They have led workshops in card making, paper arts, and bookbinding, and have taught two- and three-dimensional design courses at the university level. Her teaching emphasizes hands-on learning, technical skills, and creative exploration. Heather plans to pursue teaching at the college level while continuing to expand their studio practice.

Artist Statement

“My practice centers on the handmade book as a vessel for memory, identity, and embodied experience. I approach the book not as a passive container of information, but as a dynamic object in which structure, material, and content are inseparable. Through bookbinding, printmaking, and mixed media, I create works that invite tactile engagement, asking the viewer to physically navigate layered narratives.

I explore themes of vulnerability, the body, marginalized voices, and personal history—subjects often silenced or overlooked. By integrating text, imagery, and sculptural form, I transform intimate experiences into shared encounters. The material presence of the book—its weight, texture, and movement—becomes a language of its own, shaping how stories are revealed and understood.

The act of making is central to my practice. Binding, printing, and constructing are not separate from the narrative—they are integral to it. Each decision, from structure to surface, contributes to the meaning of the work.

Ultimately, I aim to create books that foster both emotional and physical connection, encouraging viewers to engage with stories not only intellectually, but through touch and interaction. My work exists at the intersection of personal memory and collective experience, using the book form to hold, question, and reimagine both.”