Inspired primarily by animals, sculptor Kitty Wales uses steel, discarded appliances and other found object materials that are “salvaged from domestic life and have a recognizable history.”
Kenmore and Amana, salvaged metal from discarded appliances
Dingo Border I, steel, expanded metal, 4′
She first researches her subjects extensively in their natural habitat, visiting Longhorn cattle ranches, scuba diving to observe reef sharks, traveling to the Scottish Hebrides to study wild goats and, closer to home, embarking on a lengthy in-depth look at her own dog. The studies help Wales understand the anatomy and movements of her subjects before she begins the sculptures.
Edith’s Goat, steel plate, 4′
Kitty Wales
Canis Ex Machina
Canis Ex Machina, drawing
Wales used her dog Tucker as the subject of Canis Ex Machina. The sculpture, a machine that unravels a huge pile of sweaters and then spits the yarn out in a process of cloning the original dog, is a fascinating piece. Read more about it on her website.
“For the past 15 years I have made sculpture based on direct observations of the animal world. I am interested in connecting the viewer to an unexpected place and often modify the appearance of a space to present an altered context to the gallery setting.” Kitty Wales
