Heather Soderberg was a bright, beautiful and curious baby who from early on had a fascination with her father working in a Flagstaff, AZ bronze foundry. At a year old her father gave Heather some soft wax and hours later she had created a sculpture of what appeared to be 5 variations of the female form. By the age of 2, she sculpted over 100 pieces, which her father cast in bronze. At 3 she sold 30 sculptures at her first art show and was hired to sculpt her first commission, she was also showing her work in art galleries from Scottsdale, AZ to Houston, TX.
Heather gained national and worldwide attention as a young sculpting prodigy when her story was featured by Paul Harvey, People Magazine, National Geographic World, and “That’s Incredible”. Heather continued to progress as an artist and was hired for many public, private and Museum commissions throughout her childhood, teen and college years. Heather earned a degree in Criminal Science and Psychology at Northern Arizona University and afterwards, deciding she needed a sabbatical, moved to the Hawai’ian Islands and became a certified scuba diver. After 4 years, Heather felt the pull to recommit her life to art and moved to Portland, OR to work in a bronze foundry as a welder.
In 2009 she bought the foundry she worked at and moved it to the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The move was the catalyst that would propel her work to a meteoric level.
“Heather Soderberg’s “Sacagawea, Pompi, and Seaman” commissioned by the Port of Cascade Locks has gained regional and worldwide attention for it’s emotional impact. This piece highlights Heather’s talent as it probes deeply and sensitively into our cultural consciousness to seek those distinctive American elements that together constitute our artistic and cultural heritage. Heather’s open forms evoke a truly symbolic reference to American spiritual growth.”
