hERO is Helen Roowalla, a visual artist of Persian and Indian origin. Born in Switzerland in 1980, and raised there until the age of 15, when she moved to the United States to complete her education.
hERO currently lives and works in Switzerland. She has been actively painting since 2009 but has been drawing all her life. She began her visual journey by painting large-scale insects in oil. Later she moved on to portraiture, with a touch of surrealism. In 2013 she began experimenting with abstract painting, and finally developed her signature pop art surrealist style, and embraced acrylic as her medium of choice. Her style is characterized by bold lines and bright colors. Her lines are curved, almost cartoon-like, and the shapes organic and full of movement. hERO has been exhibiting on a regular basis since 2011, both in her native Switzerland in solo and collective shows, as well as internationally in Los Angeles, New York, London, Rome, and Milan to name a few. hERO draws influence from a variety of life experiences, such as her heritage, her travels, and artists and art movements of the past, from ancient to contemporary. In 2012, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Art History to strengthen her artistic knowledge. Aside from sculpture classes to learn new techniques, she is entirely self-taught, developing her style and painting techniques through experimentation and constant work.
hERO currently lives and works in Switzerland. She has been actively painting since 2009 but has been drawing all her life. She began her visual journey by painting large-scale insects in oil. Later she moved on to portraiture, with a touch of surrealism. In 2013 she began experimenting with abstract painting, and finally developed her signature pop art surrealist style, and embraced acrylic as her medium of choice. Her style is characterized by bold lines and bright colors. Her lines are curved, almost cartoon-like, and the shapes organic and full of movement. hERO has been exhibiting on a regular basis since 2011, both in her native Switzerland in solo and collective shows, as well as internationally in Los Angeles, New York, London, Rome, and Milan to name a few. hERO draws influence from a variety of life experiences, such as her heritage, her travels, and artists and art movements of the past, from ancient to contemporary. In 2012, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Art History to strengthen her artistic knowledge. Aside from sculpture classes to learn new techniques, she is entirely self-taught, developing her style and painting techniques through experimentation and constant work.
2020
March 1 - April 8 Villa Sassa Lugano, Switzerland 2019
May 13 - June 7 TASIS Arts Festival Montagnola, Switzerland 2018
November 23-25 La Limonaia di Villa Saroli- sponsored by Bally Fondazione per la Cultura Lugano, Switzerland June 8-10 Festivart Lugano, Switzerland May 15-30 TASIS The American School in Switzerland Montagnola, Switzerland |
2017
September 27 - October 19 TAG The Art Gallery Lugano, Switzerland June 24-26 Sculpture collective exhibit - Perseo SA Balerna, Switzerland June 14-18 The Artbox Pojects at Art Basel Basel, Switzerland June 9-11 Art Shopping Paris - represented by Il Melograno Art Gallery Paris, France April 21-24 Art Expo NY - represented by The Gallery Steiner New York, United States January 11-15 LA Art Fair - represented by The Gallery Steiner Los Angeles, United States |
2016
December 10 - January 10, 2017 Il Melograno Art Gallery Livorno, Italy November 30 - December 4 The Arbox Projects at Spectrum Miami Art Show Art Basel Week Miami, United States November 10-15 Arte Padova - represented by Il Melograno Art Gallery Padova, Italy June 6 - December 31 Casa Cultura Lugano, Switzerland May 3 - December 31 Residence Parco Salario Rome, Italy September 3 Torre Fiorenzana Grono, Switzerland May 21 Lugano Fashion Week, LAC Lugano, Switzerland April 1 -15 Galleria Domus Romana Rome, Italy March 17 - April 17 Premio Giovani Artisti 2016, Spazio Officina Mendrisio, Switzerland |
2015
October 30 - November 13 Spazio 100 Art Gallery Torino, Italy October 9 - December 31 Parco Maraini Lugano, Switzerland September 6 - 27 Maina Museum Caslano, Switzerland July 24-26 Parallax Art Fair London, United Kingdom May 1 - June 30 Collective exhibit Caronno, Italy February 21 - March 14 Humus Dance Art Space Mendrisio, Switzerland January 24 - February 13 Milano Art Gallery Milan, Italy |
2014
December 6 - January 6, 2015 Humus Dance Art Space Mendrisio, Switzerland September 1 - December 31 Il Radicchio Lugano, Switzerland November 30 - December 15 Galleria Alter Ego Ponte Tresa, Switzerland September 5-15 Collective Exhibit Lavena Ponte Tresa, Italy May 1- August 31 Ai Grappoli di Sessa Sessa, Switzerland June 20-22 "Percorsi" competition, Galleria Alter Ego Ponte Tresa, Switzerland July 1 Painting Competition Muralto, Switzerland June 1- August 31 International Collective Exhibit Milan, Italy |
2013
May 1 Competition "Guardando Milano" Second place Milan, Italy March 30 Competition "Mostra del pittore dilettante" Castagnola, Switzerland March 15 International Collective Exhibit "Art Matters" Lugano, Switzerland March 1 GMA Music School Lugano, Switzerland 2011 May 15 TASIS Arts Festival Montagnola, Switzerland |