Hayley Fowler was born in Fort Worth, Texas and received her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at Texas Christian University in 2018. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Glass from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2011.
Fowler’s practice is informed by ideas of labor, value and materiality, resulting in work that physically and conceptually addresses these issues. In responding to materials and spaces, she contemplates their value, both monetarily and socially, while simultaneously questioning the value of her time and efforts. She often chooses to engage with industrial and found objects, applying them to her work in ways that are outside of their original function; however, it is important that these materials continue to demonstrate their innate properties even after being used in her work.
A sensitivity to place and how her physical existence relates to it are factors that inform her actions. The qualities of her body, as well as the current visible state of any specific location, determine her process of responding to a situation. Through acts that can be strenuous, responsive and performative, she establishes an intimate relationship between herself and her works. While developing this connection, she remains aware of her body’s efforts and the exertion required to move or deconstruct materials and documents the results to give these actions a previously absent permanence.
Fowler has exhibited internationally and has been featured in Sculpture magazine. She is currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and working at Fleisher Art Memorial.