Meet Bailey Bass

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bailey Bass and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bailey, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was lucky enough to be raised by women who each found success in creative careers themselves. I guess you could say it really does run in the family! I have always looked up to my mother and grandmothers. My creative practice has been largely shaped by the passion they’ve shared by running a small business or rising to leadership roles in the areas of portrait photography, art education, event, floral, and interior design. Having these three incredible mentors to guide me throughout my life led me to pursue my own artistic journey. I became fascinated by all of the techniques and skills that I had been taught and eventually found my niche in textile design. I pursued my own passions and earned a BFA from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. While I was a student I worked as a florist and a bit later returned to DFW to begin my own career as an interior designer. These roles have allowed me to flourish professionally and have given me inspiration for my multidisciplinary art practice.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have found that the conceptual components of my art stem from the materials themselves. I create with collection and archival practices in mind. I constantly use family heirlooms and found materials to embellish my work. I explore personal history and the idea of discovering comfort through nature. My pieces are developed through very tactile and repetitive processes such as: embroidering, weaving, wrapping, beading, and photo transferring. My creative flow is influenced by the soft materials and layering techniques that I use. The materials themselves force me to slow down and be very purposeful with each move I make. A piece that highlights my creative drive the most is Passed On (2022). This is a mixed media installation of objects that have been handed down by loved ones who have now passed. The objects are displayed alongside or combined with handmade paper and a mix of gifted or hand-spun yarns. It is fascinating to see what objects are kept as sacred. The found materials that I have used in this work include my great grandmother’s button collection with dried flowers and seeds from my family farm. The materials that I used as frames for these objects were all circular structures made of metal, plastic, and wood in various sizes that were then wrapped. Using flax molds and handmade paper the buttons and dried flowers were incorporated into new forms. The color scheme of this work is all muted warm tones which alludes to the passing of time that these objects have faced. My goal is to continue adding to this installation and create a larger body of work from it. I have always found art making to be therapeutic and cannot wait to see where my creativity takes me next.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fort Worth has always been home and I’ve grown to appreciate it even more as I’ve gotten older.
What I missed most during my time in Chicago was the local cuisine and cultural district! I have had friends from all over the country visit and always do my best to give them a well rounded tour. A few of my favorite local spots are:

Food: Los Asaderos / Panther City BBQ / Cafe Bella / Enchiladas Ole / Walloons / Tinies

Art Galleries & Museums: Fort Works Art / The Modern / The Kimbell

Live Music: Tulips / Sundance Square / Dickies Arena / Billy Bobs

Shopping: Winton and Waits / Montgomery Antique Mall / 2nd Street

Website: https://baileykbass.com

Image Credits
Bailey Bass