Yoga Chicks 2 

Lucia Heffernan’s oil painting, Yoga Chicks 2, presents three chicks practicing yoga. Humorously, Heffernan uses the depiction of human activities enacted by animals to explore the concepts of identity and individuality. These chicks are depicted in human-like poses, which draws attention to the performance of identity. The central chick, haloed and in prayer, may be a humorous reference to the chick as a symbol of rebirth and purity, and how these qualities intersect with spirituality. Heffernan’s choice of chicks might be read as a commentary on the societal expectations placed on women to be nurturing and innocent, while also acknowledging the restrictive nature of these roles. Heffernan has said, "My paintings are often a humorous approach to exploring the human condition." Yoga Chicks 2 asks us to consider how humor and vulnerability shape our understanding of self, culture, and our place within society.