Born and raised in the Bronx, Shelley’ s practice consists of blurring the boundaries between sculpture, painting and craft. A graduate from F.I.T, in interior design and C.S.U.N., Fine Art, Heffler’s oeuvre is informed by human engagements with the land and earth and a deep commitment to sustainability. The year she traveled to Europe and Asia, she experienced third world cultures like Afghanistan and India. On return to the U.S., her understanding of the world led to her interest in the interconnectedness of human values and customs in the world we share. Heffler taught ceramics and fine art of LAUSD for over 25 years and was an adjunct professor at Otis College of Art and Design. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heffler has created several community programs. Among those are We are Home, a collaborative project where 130 quilt pieces were created by the public and auctioned to benefit the unhoused. This project was on display at the Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, California. Additionally, as part of the Artist in Residency at Inglewood’s Rogers Park. She brought the community of Inglewood together with her It Takes a Village quilt project. She currently resides in Palm Desert and has a studio in the Perez Arts District in Cathedral City, California.