Heide Presse
Born 1958 in Heidelberg, Germany; lives in Cincinnati, Ohio
COMBINING HER INTERESTS in history, art, and needlework, Heide Presse’s paintings reveal many talents. Recently, while reading the journals of overland emigrants, Heide was inspired to bring them to life. Painting mid-nineteenth-century subjects allows her to indulge her love of textiles and period clothing. Learning to sew historically accurate quilts and garments, and participating in living history, has also given her a better understanding of the lives of the people she is striving to portray.
Scenes from everyday life are among Presse’s favorite subjects, and she uses lighting and rich color to find glory in the ordinary. Showing artistic talent since she was a young child, she earned a BFA in graphic design. After working in advertising, painting became her focus. Born in Germany and raised in Louisiana, Presse lived for a while in Texas, then the west coast of Florida, but now lives in Ohio with her husband, Jim, and son, Alex. Heide is currently creating a large group of artworks based on an 1848 Oregon Trail journal, which will be an exhibition in 2023 at the Booth Western Art Museum and in 2024 at the Steamboat Art Museum.
Notable Awards and Achievements
2023 We set our faces westwards… One Woman’s journey 1839-1848, solo exhibition, Booth Western Art Museum
2021 Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Buffalo Bill Art Show, People’s Choice Award
2020 Oil Painters of America, Fall Online Showcase, First Place Award
2020 The Epoch Times, “Artist Heide Presse Paints American History: Journal by Journal.” Feature article
2019 American Women Artists, Looking West, Richard Galusha and Shirley Stocks Purchase Award, Steamboat Art Museum permanent collection
2019 Steamboat Art Museum, We Set Our Faces Westward…: One Woman’s Journey, 1839-1848, Solo exhibition, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
2017 Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Cowgirl Up!, Director’s Choice Award for Body of Work
2016 Hockaday Museum of Art, A Timeless Legacy: Women Artists of Glacier National Park, Hilda Lee Hatlen Purchase Award for Permanent Collection
2016 Hockaday Museum of Art, A Timeless Legacy: Women Artists of Glacier National Park, Lucile Van Slyck Award for Best Presentation of Three Works
2006 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Founders’ Favorite Award
2005 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Judges’ Choice Award
2002 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Grand Prize Winner for Mini 50 and Collectors’ Choice Award
2001 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Region I Winner and San Antonio Missions NHP Purchase Award
1997 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Collectors’ Choice Award and Founders’ Favorite Award
Gallery Representation
Wild Horse Gallery, Steamboat Springs, Colorado