Bio

Heather Mattera is a photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her work—and much of her life—has been about making sure people who are too often overlooked feel seen, heard, and understood.

Alongside raising her two sons, Heather has built a career as a photographer whose work has been recognized internationally. Her exhibitions highlight include A Love Letter to Nature with Photo Vogue in Milan, The Weight of it All in Minneapolis (2023), and Open Walls at the Rencontres d’Arles photo festival (2020). Most recently, she was selected for CENTER’s prestigious Review Santa Fe 100.

Through her photography, Heather partners with NGOs and non-profits, focusing on stories of resilience and care: at-risk kids, unhoused teens, foster families, women with eating disorders, and families navigating terminal illness.

She has also created opportunities for others in the field, founding a scholarship program to help photographers around the world pursue their craft, and launching a mentorship initiative that connects students with working professionals.

Earlier in her career, Heather worked as a licensed independent therapist. She developed an outpatient PTSD treatment program and therapeutic art initiative for the Veterans Administration, and facilitated both group and individual therapy on several of the VA’s inpatient psychiatric units.