artist statement and bio
I am drawn to objects in which design is dictated by use. Such objects often function as cultural signifiers or indicators, reflecting assumptions regarding class structures and social status. Through an exploration of process, reconfiguration, and material juxtapositions I undermine these assumptions and create forms that are both evocative and familiar. Shifts in the treatment of such prosaic objects result in the creation of something new and incongruous: aspects of the original form remain intact, yet new information and meaning can be applied through the process of such alteration.
Haley Bates is an Associate Professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she is head of the Metalsmithing and Jewelry program. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas, and her Master of Fine Arts Degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Haley has taught workshops at Anderson Ranch Art Center, the Colorado Metalsmithing Association’s Demo Days, Kansas State University, Missouri State University, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. Her work is included in numerous private collections, and is in the permanent collection of the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. Her artwork has been published in American Craft and Metalsmith magazines, and exhibited both nationally and internationally. She is represented by Michael Warren Contemporary in Denver, CO.