Zokaites Sculptures

Artist Statement

I call myself a sculptor, which means that I specialize in material and fetishize process. While I often use the material language of permanent public art—steel and polyurethane—to create durable, large-scale outdoor forms, I also sew and weave with lighter materials like fabric, rope, and paracord. At the studio, increased access to industrial processes and a deeper study of 

colloquial craft methodologies has led to innovative looms constructions and a greater complexity in the weave pattern. I am endeavoring to combine these aesthetics into a new visual vernacular that harkens back to the childhood notion of ‘play’, evoking a sense of joy, wonder, and catharsis.

Bio

Bobby Zokaites is a sculptor skilled in a variety of materials with a wealth of experience producing large scale works for private and public spaces. His distinctive works foster new and dynamic relationships between community, site, history and the natural environment. Blurring the line between fine art, public sculpture, and collaborative practices, his work engages diverse audiences, humanizes public spaces, and often encourages participation with larger-than-life-sized artwork. Zokaites earned his BFA at New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2008) and his MFA in Sculpture at Arizona State University (2014). A collection of his woven work was recently on solo exhibition at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (2023), and he has permanent public art on display across the valley, in Hawaii, and, soon, in Idaho. It is integral to Zokaites' practice that his work connects residents to one another and their community in new ways, creating new and lasting experiences.