Heather Blanton is a prolific artist based in Northeast Florida whose most recent “Sports” series has garnered widespread attention. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1973, she has been producing works of art in various media since childhood. Blanton made her way to painting after years of working in black-and-white photography and manipulated Polaroids. Blanton studied photography at Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. She then enjoyed a successful career as a commercial and portrait photographer By 2013, Blanton was looking for a new means of expression. She began her “Sports” series that year, launching an ongoing collection of paintings whose subject matter reflects her method of working. “Sports” provides Blanton with an outlet for her own interest in pushing human limits; the sheer number of canvases, all related yet still entirely distinct, suggest that the relentless pursuit of excellence is part of the human condition. Hypnotic groups of skiers, surfers, football players, golfers, and cyclists, among many others, reflect the irresistible visual appeal of athleticism as they scatter across Blanton’s surfaces. In each of her hundreds of paintings, individuality and team spirit, excitement and alienation, and speed and endurance all hang in constant tension. Blanton’s brushwork recalls Abstract Expressionism for its quick and gesture-like nature. The works capture the electric energy of their subjects. Bright acrylic colors seem to leap from monochrome backgrounds, but their painstaking detail also demand that viewers engage in an active dialogue with them. Since its inception in 2013, the “Sports” paintings have been captivating audiences around the world for how they capture the nuances of athleticism and sports fandom.