Kathleen Baker Metalwork, Portland, OR
Discouraged from studying art as a teenager, I recaptured that interest after many years in the high tech sector and private consulting. I loved both the work and the people, but my need to be a maker was very strong.
The sources for my work are diverse. I am drawn, sometimes unexpectedly, to certain forms, patterns, colors and textures, and find myself exploring concepts sometimes driven by just a word, phrase or image. I've always been curious about the potential impact on individual well-being created by the relationship between adornment and self-concept, and I'm still intrigued.
My work is elegant and playful, intended for an audience that is both sophisticated and unconventional. Usually I fabricate in a series with recurring patterns and themes using precious metals and gemstones, and experiment with different techniques and alternative approaches.
Currently my work is driven by three themes – our intricate human relationships, an ongoing love affair with the work of Vincent van Gogh, and more conceptually based talismans pieces. My pieces are made entirely by hand in my studio in Portland, Oregon.
