PHILOSOPHY

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Personal Statement

Biography

Serena Bates is a sculptor and storyteller based in Ashaway, RI, known for creating work that captures the spirit, humor, and quiet truths found in everyday life.

Born in Quonset, she began drawing as a child and discovered early on that stories were her true medium – stories that "plant seeds in my mind, take shape in my soul, and are born through my sculptures." Serena studied traditional figure painting, anatomy, and sculpture at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and trained with influential artists including Elizabeth Gordon Chandler, Laci deGerenday, Don Gale, Aaron Shikler, Dean Keller, and Philippe Faraut, whose guidance helped shape her intuitive, wabi-sabi approach to sculpting. Her work favors emotional truth over strict measurement, allowing each piece to develop its own personality and presence. Her recent public commissions include the Tarzan Brown sculpture in Westerly, honoring the legendary Narragansett athlete and two-time Boston Marathon champion, and Spirit of the Pine, a monumental figure in Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut. These works reflect her deep connection to local history, nature, and the narratives that define a community.

Serena's sculptures – ranging from expressive animals to imaginative marine and mythological figures – have earned over one hundred national and regional awards. Her work is exhibited throughout the United States and Canada and is held in private and public collections nationwide. She is an active member of the National Sculpture Society, the American Society of Marine Artists, and the Salmagundi Club just to name a few.

Beyond her studio practice, Serena coordinates "Art It Forward", a scholarship program supporting young artists pursuing careers in the arts. Her commitment to mentorship and community involvement is an essential part of her creative life.

Working from her Ashaway, RI studio, Serena continues to shape stories in clay and bronze – pieces inspired by coastal heritage, lived experience, and the beautiful imperfections that make each subject uniquely human.