Break The Mold: A Senior BFA Exhibition Featuring Haley Robinson and Freddy Baeza
Art Wrecker Studios presents Break the Mold, a landmark BFA exhibit featuring the work of USAO Assistant Professor of Art Freddy Baeza and graduating senior Haley Robinson. This exhibition marks a significant departure from traditional BFA exhibitions by pairing a faculty member with a student in a joint professional display.
The exhibition highlights a shift towards conceptual ceramic art, exploring themes of Mesoamerican identity, feminine representation, and the evolution of craftsmanship.
Freddy Baeza, an alum from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, is pivoting from functional to conceptual using his new body of work to bridge the gap between traditional craft and fine art.
Influenced by his heritage, Baeza’s work, using slip-cast skulls, seeks to reclaim the iconography of the symbol from commercialized pop culture.
“Everybody sees the skull as death. We do not.” Baeza said. “The skulls represent rebirth; a new beginning. It’s my way of taking my culture back and saying, ‘Respect it.’”
Baeza’s collection utilizes diverse techniques, including Raku-firing and high-fire glazes to create a series feels both ancient and urgently modern.
Haley Robinson’s part in the exhibition is a representation of years of dedication to her practice. Robinson’s work serves as a dual commentary on the history of her medium and the modern female experience. By blending the physical labor of ceramics with delicate, representative forms, she seeks to carve out a space for women in a field historically dominated by men.
“When I look at a lot of ceramic artists, it’s mostly men.” Robinson said. “I wanted to highlight femininity in the hard work that is in ceramics. But it’s also something I’ve struggled with my entire life; I don’t think there’s a woman out there who hasn’t struggled with this.”
The series is heavily inspired by baroque artist Artemesia Gentileschi, utilizing a similar sense of emotional weight and defiance. Robinson’s work rejects the ‘idealized’ body, instead offering figures that viewers can recognize as authentic.
“I want to make figures that people can look at and hopefully see themselves in,” she says.
With the help of Baeza’s mentorship, Robinson has pushed the technical limits of her craft. “She went from barely being able to do six-inch pots to pieces that are now taller than some of mine," Baeza says. "The craftsmanship—the finesse—behind her work is incredible. This kid has what it takes."
Break the Mold will be held at Art Wrecker Studios, 222 W Chickasha Ave, on April 11th, from 5 – 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
About Art Wrecker Studios:
Art Wrecker Studios is an innovative space for artists to bring their best work to Chickasha, Oklahoma. Dedicated to fostering artistic expression through all genres of art, this creative space pushes the boundaries of what art truly is. Art Wrecker Studios is a haven for students, professionals, and anyone that dares to think outside the box.
Contact: Hannah Thompson | 405-574-1362