Heather Mattera
Artist Statement
Rewiring
2025 Iceland
These aerial landscapes of southeastern Iceland are a meditation on isolation and the sacredness of nature. From above, the land’s colors and textures—woven from glaciers, volcanoes, and braided rivers—form an abstract harmony, at times surreal, yet always deeply moving. Suspended in the sky, I am enveloped by the unspoiled earth below, where human presence fades into insignificance, and the land’s raw grandeur speaks for itself.
Iceland’s commitment to land conservation is evident in its extensive protected areas, covering nearly 30% of its total landmass. Initiatives like the Soil Conservation Service combat erosion and restore vegetation lost to centuries of deforestation, ensuring the resilience of these landscapes. National parks such as Vatnajökull safeguard fragile ecosystems, preserving glacial and volcanic terrains that define Iceland’s identity.
From this vantage point, the sanctity of the land is striking. Unlike the disarray I often encounter on the ground—discarded plastic, remnants of human neglect—this untouched expanse breathes freely. Here, there is no waste, no disregard, no violence against nature. It exists in its purest form, undisturbed and sovereign. Yet, I am left to wonder: How can so many be blind to the beauty I witness? These images, in their vibrant colors and abstract patterns, are not just a celebration of Iceland’s beauty but a call to action — a reflection on our relationship with the earth and our responsibility to preserve it.
Artist Bio
Heather Mattera has spent much of her life helping people who have been marginalized feel more seen, heard and understood in our society.
In addition to having devoted herself to raising her two sons, she is an award winning photographer who has exhibited frequently: most recently -“A Love Letter to Nature” with Photo Vogue- in Milan. The Weight of it All”- in Minneapolis in 2023, and at Open Walls at the Rencontres d’Arles photography photo festival in 2020. Through her photography, she works with NGOs and non-profits to help a variety of people- at risk kids, unhoused teens, foster care families, woman with eating disorders, families with terminally ill children - create new narratives for themselves and ways they can fit into our world.
She founded a scholarship program to support photographers around the world develop their art and have the opportunity to engage in a craft that is life enriching and possibly even life changing. Subsequently, she started a mentorship program that subsidizes professional photographers to mentor photography students.
Earlier in her career as a published, licensed independent therapist, she developed an outpatient PTSD treatment program and a therapeutic art program for the Veterans Administration. In addition, spent time facilitating individual and group therapy on many of the VA’s inpatient psychiatric units.
Rewiring, 2025