Cortney Herron (b. 1988, Los Angeles, CA) is a contemporary figurative painter whose work blends surrealism with serene, introspective compositions. Known for her ability to evoke a profound sense of calm, her art explores the quiet beauty of life’s simple yet fleeting moments. Using earthy, organic palettes, Cortney creates peaceful, reflective worlds that balance the familiar with the dreamlike.
Growing up in the sunlit landscapes of Los Angeles, Cortney developed a deep connection to nature, which continues to inspire her work through color, shape, pattern, texture, and the human form. Her paintings often capture intimate moments that may seem ordinary at first glance but reveal a deeper sense of calm and reflection over time.
Beyond her personal practice, Cortney has collaborated with brands including National Women’s Soccer League + Black Womens Players Collective, Target, Nordstrom, World Market, Pressed Juicery, Bombay Sapphire, Dagne Dover, Society6, Refinery29, and more, with a body of work that spans oil, acrylic, and digital mediums. Her art has been featured in numerous publications, galleries, and art fairs, earning recognition for its ability to pause time and offer viewers a moment of stillness.
Since 2023, she has been working as an independent artist out of her Los Angeles studio, where she remains deeply focused on her personal practice.
Artist Statement
My artistic process is deeply rooted in self-reflection and solitude—those quiet moments when the noise of the outside world fades, and I can truly listen to myself. In my studio, usually with music flowing through my headphones, I’m able to lose myself in the process, allowing intuition to take the lead. I need that breathing room—time, stillness, and space to play—because it’s in those moments of calm that my most honest work emerges. Just as my paintings capture fleeting moments of introspection, my practice mirrors that same stillness—a space to explore, experiment, and fully immerse myself in creation.
Growing up in Los Angeles, I developed a deep connection to nature—the vastness of the ocean, the warmth of the sun, the rhythm of the city. These elements all carry a certain energy and mood that naturally weave their way into my work, influencing my approach to color, texture, and form. My work blends surrealism with serene, contemplative compositions, balancing the familiar with the dreamlike. So I invite viewers into a world suspended between reality and reverie, where time slows and emotions settle.
At its core, my work is about capturing the quiet beauty within the ordinary—the fleeting, in-between moments that often go unnoticed yet hold profound depth. Those are the moments that matter most to me. As much as my art is a gift to the world—offering a sense of peace, calm, and reflection—it’s also a gift to myself. It keeps me balanced, grounded, and connected to my own inner stillness. In a world that constantly moves, I offer a pause, a breath, an invitation to step into stillness and rediscover the subtle, powerful emotions that connect us all.
Exhibitions
2025
FEB 21-27 : A Show Of Support - Tappan Collective, Los Angeles (Frieze/LA Art week)
FEB 27: Our Own x Pressed Juicery - HOME Group Show
Mar 8: N As In Nancy - All Women Group Show - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
2024
Beverly Hills Art Show (Fall), Beverly Hills, CA
“My Homies” Group Show - DTLA
Garden Party: Pop-Up Hallery @Albion Garden, Venice, CA
BUTTER - Fine Art Fair, Indianapolis, IN
Art At Atelier - Atelier Eva, Brooklyn, NY
The Other Art Fair - Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA (Spring)
The Love We Give - Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, CA
Dear April - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
High Tea - Femme It Forward (Grammy Weekend), Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA
The ART OF_ Auction - The Laurel Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
2023
WYTCHES - Dorado 806 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
The Other Art Fair - Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA (Spring)
The Other Art Fair - Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA (Fall)
777 - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Mothership Earth - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
More Minis - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Orthodox LA Gallery - Los Angeles, CA
Harbor Studios - Malibu, CA
2022
Affordable Art Fair - PxP Contemporary, New York, NY
The Gigantic Miniature Show - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Aspire Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA
Orthodox LA Gallery - Los Angeles, CA
2021
Collective 131 - Art Pop-Up @ Palette, Saratoga Springs, NY
Mother Shipment - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Black Like My Coffee - New York, NY
Pop Up Home - UNREPD, Los Angeles, CA
What’s Ya Vibe - Orthodox LA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
The Gigantic Miniature Show - Deep Space Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
2020
Collective 131 - Art Pop-Up @ Palette, Saratoga Springs, NY
Special Engagements
2021
Live Illustrator - Society6 @ The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
Earth Day - Nikki Cade Studio, Dallas, TX
2020
Speaker - The Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, New York, NY
2019
Panelist - Pretty Thing, Los Angeles, CA
2018 - 2020 Artist in Residence
The Riveter - Los Angeles, CA
Partnerships + Clients
National Women’s Soccer League + Black Women’s Player Collective
World Market
Femme It Forward: High Tea (Grammy Weekend) - 2024
I am a voter.
The Other Art Fair
Saatchi Art
The Riveter
Odd Reform
Refinery29 - Refinery29 Unbothered
Publications
2025
FoodBeast - Pressed Juicery Honors Black History Month With Limited Edition Artist Series
Delish - 8 Black History Month Food Collaborations To Get Excited About
2024
Colossal - 5 Artists To See at The Other Art Fair’s Los Angeles Edition This April - 2024
Saatchi Art: Summer 2024 Chief Curator Picks
MUNTHE: Art Monday - 2024
2023
LA Weekly - October 2023 (WYTCHES at Dorado 806 Projects)
Artlife + Style - October 2023
Canvas Rebel - September 2023
Jersey City Times - August 2023
Good Housekeeping Magazine - June 2023
Hello! Magazine - February 2023
2022
Une Femme Wines - September 2022
Affordable Art Fair - September 2022
Jersey City Times - March 2022
2021
Spacey - 2021
Find Peace Keep Peace - July 2021
2020
Shoutout LA - May 2020
2018
The Argonaut - August 2018
VoyageLA - August 2018
2017
Visionary Projects - November 2017
As Seen On
Bel-Air (Peacock) Season 3, Episode 10
A Black Lady Sketch Show - Episodes: "It's Getting Heist in Here" and "Loc'd In"
Based on a True Story (Peacock) Season 2
(Coming Soon) Feature Film on Apple TV+
(Coming Soon) New scripted series on Peacock