Heather Schmaedeke/ Forgotten

Heather Schmaedeke is a Berlin-based photographer, originally from Chicago, IL. Heather´s education in the arts, combined with her love of exploration and travel, shapes her graphic depictions of urban landscapes, carved out of shadows, light, and reflections. Her work is informed by Edward Hopper and Film Noir. The overarching theme in her artwork is the narrative; it transports the viewer and invites participation in the creation of stories related to the images. In high school, Heather won a scholarship to study art at Skidmore College, NY, in 1990. She earned a B.A. in Art in 1997 and an M.A. in Education in 2003, both from St. Xavier University in Chicago, IL. In 2012, she came to Berlin to participate in an artist residency. With the exception of a short break, she has lived in Berlin since 2012. Heather´s work was published in print by Steidl Verlag in 2013 and Naturskyddsföreningen in 2014, as well as digitally on various online platforms including visit.Berlin.de. In 2015, she won second place in the 24 Hour Fotomarathon in Berlin. She has had several solo exhibitions; her work has been featured in multiple international photography exhibitions and is in the collection of the Ephraim Palais, Berlin. In 2019, she received an honorable mention in the “Motion” exhibit at the PH21 Gallery in Budapest. Heather won the World Photography Day contest, sponsored by The COOPH, in 2020, and her photos were featured on The Head of a Girl album, also released that year. In 2024, she was invited to present her work to the Deutscher Verbund für Fotografie.