About
Born in Pakistan, I spent much of my childhood abroad as the son of a U.S. Foreign Services officer. Following tours in The Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Liberia, my family settled in Culpeper, Virginia, where I completed high school. I've been fascinated with art and design since I was little and always knew that it would play a major role in my life. I followed through with art school, earning a BFA with a concentration in communication arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992.
I moved to Atlanta, Georgia shortly after graduation, co-founded "Poets, Artists & Madmen," an arts & literature publication, and I've specialized in publication design and creative direction for the majority of my career. Debbie and I decided to move to Richmond in 2001. Marriage and a family soon followed and we've happily settled in Richmond's Forest Hill neighborhood.
I found my way back to painting in 1998 and have been showing my work ever since. I've been painting everything from figurative work to abstract, and found myself narrowing to two styles: realism and abstraction. Richmond and rural Virginia have become a main source of subject matter for my work.
My work can be found in several large collections including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Facebook, Capital One, the U.S. Department of State and NewMarket Corporation.
Exhibits & Accolades
Black Iris Gallery, Richmond, VA, June 1-29, 2022, "True Places," group exhibit
Capital One, West Creek Extended Media Gallery / Town Center, Henrico, VA, April 2019, "Confluence," solo exhibit
​Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, November, 2018, "Confluence," solo exhibit
One Loudoun, Richmond, VA July, 2018, exterior mural project with Matt Lively and Ed Trask, 180' x 35'
93Octane, Richmond, VA, April, 2018, "RVA Mashup," interior mural
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, September, 2015, "Full Circle: New Works by Steve Hedberg," solo exhibit
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 3-February 1, 2013, Small Works Invitational
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, April 5-27, 2013, "Populace: New Works by Steve Hedberg," solo exhibit
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 4-26, 2013, Small Works Invitational
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, September 7-October 30, 2012, "The Big 5," a group exhibit
Tappahannock Artists' Guild, Tappahannock, VA, July 6-31, 2012, Juried Summer exhibit,
"Nags Head No. 2 received 3rd place
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 6-28, 2012, Small Works Invitational
Gallery at UNOS, Richmond, VA, September 3-October 28, 2011, "Land and Sea," solo exhibit
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 3-29, 2011, Small Works Invitational
Colonial Center for the Performing Arts, South Hill, VA, April 4-June 25, 2011, "The Route One Project," solo exhibit
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, September 3-28, 2010, "1," solo exhibit
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 2010, Small Works Invitational
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 2009, Small Works Invitational
Glavé Kocen Gallery, Richmond, VA, May 2008, "New Works," a solo exhibit
Rentz Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 15-30, 2007, Small Works Invitational
Rentz Gallery, Richmond, VA, September 8-October 15, 2006, "New Works," solo exhibit
Rentz Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 6-30, 2006, Small Works Invitational
43rd Street Festival, Richmond, VA, September 16, 2005
Arts In The Park, Richmond, VA, April 30-May 1, 2005
Centre Gallery/Artworks, Richmond, VA, March 25-April 17, 2005, "Pavement," a series of realistic scenes of Richmond
Rentz Gallery, Richmond, VA, January 14-Feb. 28, 2005, Small Works Invitational
DOSE Cafe, November 5-29, 2004, "Real Richmond"
43rd Street Festival, Richmond, VA, September 18, 2004
Artworks, Richmond, VA, January 1-June 30, 2004, Numerous paintings selected and exhibited for monthly juried exhibits
Shockoe Bottom Arts Center, Richmond, VA, 2003, Numerous paintings selected and exhibited for monthly juried exhibits
Sacred Grounds Coffee House, Atlanta, GA, May 1999: "Rawalpindi and Beyond"
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Collections
Richmond Federal Reserve
U.S. Department of State
Capital One
​Facebook
Dominion Energy
NewMarket Corporation
Ironworks Consulting
Landamerica
Williams Mullen
Apple Hospitality REIT/Marriott
VCU Health
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Bibliography
Personal Essay, "Water Ways," Richmond Magazine (May 5, 2019)
Terryn Hall, "Confluence: Richmond exhibition explores one man's relationship with the James River," Virginia Living (November/December 2018)
Bill Blevins, "Steve Hedberg's River Adventure," CBS-6 WTVR's Virginia This Morning (November 7, 2018)
Kate Andrews, "Water Colors," R•Home (October/November 2018)
Chris Wadsworth, "Massive Murals Go Up at One Loudoun," theburn.com (June 16, 2018)
Danielle Nadler, "Huge Mural Goes Up in One Loudoun," LoudounNow.com (June 25, 2018)
Amy David, "Art 180 Teens Collaborate With Local Artist on Black Hand Mural" RVA Magazine
Jo Lord, "Glave Kocen Celebrates The Big 5," Richmond Times Dispatch (September 2, 2012)
Jo Lord, "Unos Exhibiting 'Land & Sea,' " Richmond Times Dispatch (September 29, 2011)
May Lily-Lee, Interview segment on Virginia Currents, PBS Community Idea stations, Central Virginia (October 14, 2010)
Susan Winiecki, "Dashboard Days," Richmond magazine, (September 2010)
Ann Harman, "Artist Steve Hedberg's art inspired by ebb and flow of life along U.S. Route 1," Fifty Plus, (September 2010)
Valley Haggard, "40 Under 40," Style (Weekly), (October 2008)
Roy Proctor, "Tale of Two Styles," Richmond Times-Dispatch, (October 2006)