Lynette K. Henderson (she/her) is a visual artist in drawing, painting and mixed media, with a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1986), MFA from the University of Minnesota (1989), and a Ph.d. in Art Education from Arizona State University (2006). Henderson currently works and resides in southern California, U.S.A.
Henderson’s artworks feature a variety of perspectives related to biodiversity and environmental issues, with special emphasis on animal life. Some are depicting animals integrated into their natural habitats, seeking to provide insight into various species through detail and compelling compositions and relationships, others include various urban-related habitats. She often selects animals as painting challenges, delving into the intricate details of individual animals – examining anatomy, colors, textures, and patterns. Henderson is also interested in depictions of displacement and resilience of wildlife within both urban and natural settings.
Conceptually, Henderson finds that humans tend to project themselves and their desired or imagined characteristics and emotions onto animals. Preserved in zoos, common to both rural and urban environments, various animals are considered by visitors to be either extraordinary, as pests or even despised rather than admirable, based on human perceptions and imaginings of the value of different species. She is seeking to challenge these and other romantic notions about nature within herself as well as other viewers.