Meet the artist

Welcome! My name is Lea Higares, and I’m an artist, wife, and new mother based in Phoenix, Arizona. I received my Bachelor’s in Painting and Drawing at ASU and later became an art teacher for a few years before having my sweet son in 2026.

After becoming a mom, I felt how important it was to keep my creativity alive even through all the wonderful changes going on in my life. Sonoran Heron was born out of a pure passion and necessity to continue making art.

The inspiration for the name “Sonoran Heron” came from my Sonoran Desert roots and my love for the majestic heron, which I often saw by the lake at Papago Park when I lived in Tempe.

My art is deeply inspired by both the desert and the sea, and the heron can be found in both of these places! To me, this beautiful and ethereal bird is the perfect symbol that ties all the themes of my work together.

My intention is that my jewelry will help women embody the beauty and uniqueness within themselves and reflect the beauty that is all around us. Each of us is like a painting, totally individual and unique. I hope that each piece of jewelry will serve as a physical reminder of this whenever it is worn.