My name is Luci Westphal – but online, you can usually find me as @LuciWest
I’m a visual non-fiction storyteller, writer and social artist with a focus on biophilic art projects to enhance people’s well-being by connecting with the outdoors through art.
In my work as a documentary filmmaker, I aim to help people and non-profits tell their stories and express their ideas and passions – for an informed, connected, and better tomorrow.
My first camera, I received when I was 8 years old. I’ve taken pictures ever since.
My first feature-length film, I made when I was 20. You will probably never see it.
I’m the creator of the web series Moving Postcard, which aired weekly for 7 years and which you can watch right now: MOVING POSTCARD
I grew up in the beautiful landscape of the Haseldorfer Marsch near Hamburg, Germany. After film school in Florida, I lived mostly in Brooklyn, then in Berlin, and eventually in Colorado. The latest move brought me to St. Petersburg, on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, where I get easily distracted by birds.
The third installment of my decades-long documentary project All’s Well and Fair is still in post-production. Yes, still.
Recipient of a 2024 Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist Grant!
Proud member of the Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood (AEHK), Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA), St. Pete Arts Alliance (SPAA), and the Creatives Exchange of Tampa Bay.
On this website, you’ll find my travel, nature, city, and street art photography, my short videos, and all the blog posts from 2006 until today. There’s also some mention of my outdoor lifestyle brand Happier Place.
UPCOMING EVENTS
GRANTS + FELLOWSHIPS
2024 – Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist Grant 2024
2023 – Bird metal sculpture selected for Kenwood Public Art Initiative “Finials III”
2022 – St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grant for “St. Pete Moving Still”
2021 – Two photo-based metal sculptures selected for Kenwood Public Art Initiative “Finials II”
2008 – Women in Film Fiscal Sponsor for documentary “All’s Well and Fair”
2007 – Jerome Hill NYC Film & Video Production Grant for documentary “All’s Well and Fair”
2004 – Jerome Hill NYC Film & Video Production Grant for documentary “All God’s Children”
RECENT EXHIBITS & EVENTS
2024
Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist Exhibit — The Gallery at Creative Pinellas, Largo — May – July 2024
Featured Artist during St. Pete 2nd Saturday ArtWalk, 4 Gats Gallery, St. Petersburg — April 2024
2024 Historic Kenwood Artist Enclave Studio Tour, St. Petersburg — March 16 + 17
“Florida” — Group Exhibit at Five Deuces Galleria, St. Petersburg — February 2024
2023
“Movement” — Group Exhibit, St. Pete ArtsXchange (WADA) — October
“St. Pete Birds” — Duo Exhibit with Tracy Kennard, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce — ongoing
Speaker on the panel “Art as Protest and Catharsis” — American Society of Missiology Conference — June 18 — St. Mary’s College/Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana
“Urban Wood” — Solo Exhibit, Creative Grape — May 24 – June 17
“Unique Perspectives” — Group Photography Exhibit at Five Deuces Galleria, St. Petersburg
2023 Historic Kenwood Artist Enclave Studio Tour, St. Petersburg
2022
Bird Walk Between The Finials – Social Art and Community Engagement, St. Petersburg
Historic Kenwood Artist Enclave Studio Tour 2022, St. Petersburg
Files & Film 8 – Photography Exhibit, Gallery 221 @HCC, Tampa
“3 From Kenwood” – Photography Exhibit, Creative Grape, St. Petersburg
“Let’s Make The World Happier” – Group Exhibit at Five Deuces Galleria, St. Petersburg
“On Wood & Of Wood” – Solo Photography Exhibit, 4 Gats Gallery, St. Petersburg
“St. Pete Moving Still” – two Interactive Public Exhibits at Westminster Suncoast, St. Petersburg
“St. Pete Moving Still” Private Lending Period to Residents at Westminster Suncoast
Featured Artist during 24th Annual Historic Kenwood BungalowFest
Featured Artist at Public Art Initiative’s Dining for Arts 2022, St. Petersburg
Featured Artist at ArtCrawl 2022, Lakeland
First Bohemian Night – Group Exhibit at Kenwood Gables featuring Moving Stills, St. Petersburg
Featured Artist at Winter in the ‘Wood, St. Petersburg
PAST AWARDS, EXHIBITS, SCREENINGS (selects only)
“Moving Postcard” (not to be confused with “Moving Still” art project): 800,000 online views, footage used for documentaries (incl. BBC), multiple international screenings and art exhibits (incl. S3 Gallery, Chicago)
“All God’s Children”: Sarasota Film Festival, screenings in 15 other cities, aired on Dutch TV (Nederlands 2)
“All’s Well and Fair 2”: aired on Australian TV
Screenwriting: Winner at IFP/Miami’s “Show Us Your Script” Competition, Finalist at National Screenwriting Competition + 6 more placements
Short Films: 41st Rochester International Film Festival, “Movies on a Shoestring” Winner, New Jersey International Film Festival Screening Jury Citation Winner + 9 more placements