Clare Hirn, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, received her Master’s in Painting and Drawing from the New York
Academy of Art - Graduate School of Figurative Art. With an emphasis on strong foundational skills of drawing and painting,
Hirn has largely worked realistically over the span of her 30+ year career. Always inspired by the natural world, with a focus
on landscape and the human figure.

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​Hirn has participated in and received numerous awards in many regional shows. Her paintings and murals are in many private and public collections, homes and businesses and have appeared in numerous publications. Her work has always ranged in scale, from 60’ long interior murals, to small, more intimately viewed pieces. Her large scale works in public spaces, such as Norton Cancer Institute, UofL Health Care Outpatient Center and the University of Kentucky’s Chandler Hospital, work to bring the beauty of our natural world inside, acknowledging the healing effects nature provides. Many of her studio paintings work to bring awareness and appreciation for the natural world in this Anthropocene era.
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Through travel and life experiences in other cities, Hirn further developed her lifelong appreciation of the environment and community. After returning to Louisville in the 90’s, Hirn has been active in various roles: co-founder of Art for Health, PTSA President for her children’s public school, training to be a kNOw Waste ambassador for Louisville and more broadly, also learning to communicate more effectively about climate change.
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Besides assisting/teaching/developing many community art projects over her 30-year career, Hirn is now partnering with Louisville Visual Art to finance and bring to life the fellowship program, Curate Purchase Inspire. CPI is an original concept by Hirn, who collaborated with LVA to realize it in practice. It is an innovative approach to enhancing the Louisville art ecosystem by coordinating efforts of local curators with the missions of local non-profit organizations. Local artists’ work is purchased and displayed in these non-profits and is establishing a community owned art collection. Hirn’s relationship with LVA has come full-circle, from being selected as a child to participate in their free after-school fine art classes, to receiving the LVA 2022 Benefactor of the Year Award. Hirn recognizes that any healthy society has a profound appreciation for the arts in general and her initiative will have a lasting impact in support of the local visual arts.