As a child of eight or nine years old, Serena Bates started her journey of exploration and interpretation of the world around her through art. Beginning with pencil and paper sketches, Serena went on to explore a variety of media, including charcoal, pastel, and oil and acrylic paint, as she depicted landscapes, flowers, and animals. As a young adult, she studied traditional figure painting and anatomy at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and the Rhode Island School of Design. Upon discovering the joy of working with clay, Serena found her passion for sculpting portraits – busts and full figures, both serious and whimsical – and all sorts of critters with lots of personality: barnyard animals, domestic ones, and increasingly over time, marine animals. She added working with bronze and stone to her repertoire. Many years of observing animals in nature, at home, and in her job at the Mystic Aquarium, helped Serena develop her non-traditional approach to sculpting. Rather than taking measurements, Serena trusts her observations, intuition and connection to the stories of the people and animals she portrays, producing a “Wabi-Sabi” effect, Japanese for perfectly imperfect. “Stories are what define my work, what drive my vision, what inspire my hands…my life,” she says. The stories-turned-sculptures range from a clay White Rabbit staring down to the bottom of a log, looking for Alice; to bronze Three Stooges fountainheads squirting water from pursed lips; to alabaster octopi and mermaids at play and at rest. This approach has proven successful, with Serena’s sculptures shown in nationally-known exhibitions and galleries across the United States and Canada. She has won more than 70 awards and honors during her career. In the last five years alone, she has won more than 20 prestigious awards from the American Artists Professional League, Allied Artists of America, the Salmagundi Club, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Club, the Academic Artist Association, and Mystic Museum of Art, to name a few. The artist is also a member of the American Society of Marine Artists, Allied Artists of America, American Artists Professional League, and the Salmagundi Club. “Survivor,” winner of the Environmental Statement Award, presented in 2019 at the Artists for Conservation’s International Juried Exhibition in Vancouver, is a wonderful case. The ceramic work cracked in the heat of being pit-fired. Serena recalled a Japanese approach of filling cracks with gold and used that method, making the harbor seal look scarred from being caught in a fishing net. Wabi Sabi, indeed. Awards: 2023SCNY Animals: Domestic and Working ExhibitionAug 28 – Sept 28, 2023Salmagundi Club, New York, NYJuror: Robert PilsburyFirst Prize: “Zen Zen” Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts CAFA + 112th Annual ExhibitionJune 10 – July 22, 2023Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Old Lyme CTFirst Place Sculpture: "Emancipation" 73rd Annual Exhibition of Traditional RealismMay 21 – June 18, 2022Academic Artists AssociationArts Center East, Vernon, CTJuror: Del Bourree BachAward of Honor: “Isjborns – Ice Bears” 2022CLWAC Annual Members ExhibitionOctober 2022Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art ClubLyme Art Association, Lyme CTJuror: Robert PilsburyHonorable Mention: “My Precious”SCAA All Media 2 ExhibitionOct 20 - Nov 12South County Art Association, Kingston RIJuror: Del-Bourree-BachAward 3rd Place "Sirena & Octavious"CLWAC 125th Annual Open ExhibitionJune 20 – 30, 2022Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art ClubSalmagundi Club, New York, NYJoseph Beardsley Sandor Memorial Award:“Dolly on the Rocks”72nd Annual Exhibition of Traditional RealismMay 12 – June 5, 2022Academic Artists Association Arts Center East, Vernon, CTJuror: David BregaAward of Merit: “Up Dog”ACGOW Regional Art ExhibitionMay 6 – 29, 2022Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, Westerly, RIJuror: Michael Rose, Manager, Providence Art ClubKatherine Forest Crafts Foundation Mabel Kingsbury Fentress Award:"Love Story, Sirena & Octavius 2021113TH Annual Thumb Box ExhibitionNov 23, 2021 - Jan 1, 2022Salmagundi Club, New York, NYJuror: Robert PilsburyAward: Alphaeus P. Cole Memorial Award, “Star Gazer”Society of CT Sculptors ExhibitionNov 19 - Jan 2, 2022Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CTJuror: Norman LegasseAward: 3rd Prize “Gemini”93RD Annual Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional LeagueNov 8 - Nov 19, 2021Salmagundi Club, New York, NYJuror: Peter Trippi, editor-in-chief of Fine Art ConnoisseurAward: "Miss Independence", Barbara Newington Award for Traditional SculptureAudubon Artists 79TH Annual ExhibitionOct 25 - Nov 5, 2021Salmagundi Club, New York, NYJuror: Michael Cagno, Executive director and Curator of Noyes Museum of Art, NJAward: "Upward Dog", Marion & Gill Roller Memorial AwardConnected Land and Sea National ExhibitionJune 17 - July 18, 2021Copley Society of Boston, Boston MAJuror: Don DemersAward: Second Place - "Leviathan"Seaport, Small WorksMay 6 – Aug 29, 2021Copley Society of Boston, Boston, MAAward: Excellence “Sir Penguin”2020 Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts CAFA + Members ExhibitionFeb 6 - March 20, 2021Award: Third Place Award "I am Woman"Fall Annual Members ExhibitionOct 20 - Nov 6, 2020Salmagundi Club, New York, NY Award: Philip Isenberg Memorial Award "Paradise Lost"Land and Sea - Annual Elected Artists ExhibitionOct 9 - Nov 19, 2020, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CTJuror: Robert PilsburyThird Prize: "Shoo Fly"Annual Members ExhibitionAug 10 - Aug 28, 2020 Salmagundi Club, New York, NY Juror: Edmond RochatAward: Mary Fitch Memorial Award "Padawan"107th Annual Associate Member Juried Exhibition (online),Allied Artists of AmericaMay 18 - Aug 2021 - Aug 2022Salmagundi Club, New York, NY Award: Excellence in Sculpture -Elected Artist Status Awarded "Amun Ra"Annual Members ExhibitionMay 20, 2020Salmagundi Club, New York, NYJuror: Claudia SeymourAward: Philip Isenberg Memorial Award "Precipice"Black & White ExhibitionFeb 3 - Feb 21, 2020Salmagundi Club, New York, NY Juror: Robert PilsburyAward: Margery Sorokava Award "Miss Independence"Mystic Museum of Art Members ExhibitionJan 30 - Feb 29, 2020Mystic Museum of Art. Mystic, CTAward: Award of Merit "Up Dog"CLWAC 123rd Annual Open ExhibitionJan 7 - Jan 31, 2020National Arts Club, New York, NYJurors Norman Legassie & Marc MellonAward: Charlotte Dunwoodie Award for Contemporary Realism "Miss Independence" 2019Annual Artists for Conservation International Juried ExhibitionSeptember 26-29, 2019Artists for Conservation, Vancouver, CanadaAward: Environmental Statement Award "Survivor"2019 ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITIONApr 28 - May 8, 2019Salmagundi Club, NY, NYReception May 8, 6-9 pm."Enlightened", Award of Honor110th Annual Thumbox ExhibitionDec 3, 2018 - Jan 1, 2018Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003Award: Philip Isenberg Memorial Award "Putin on the Ritz"90th Grand National Exhibition, American Artists Professional LeagueNov 11 - Nov 19, 2018Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003Juror: Stephanie L Heidrich PhD, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Assistant Curator of American Painting & Sculpture, American WingAward: Marilyn Newmark Memorial Award "Precipice"2018ACGOW REGIONAL EXHIBITIONArtists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, Westerly, RIMay 4 - May 27, 2018Jurors: Michael Peery, Rhode Island School of Design Professor“Leviathan” Katherine Forest Foundation Award100TH DUXBURY ART ASSOCIATION SHOWArt Complex Museum, Duxbury, MSFeb 4 - Apr 22, 2018Jurors: Crystal Duell, Julie Beck, Tim Ian Mitchell, Cindy Vallino, Craig Bloodgood“Survivor” Second Place Award for SculptureCLWAC 121ST ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITIONCATHERINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUBJan 9 - 26, 2018 Jurors: Gwen Pier, Director, National Sculpture Society Elizabeth Allison, Technical Instructor, Art Students League, NYCNATIONAL ARTS CLUB, New York, NY “Amun Ra” Council of American Artist Societies Inc." for traditional sculpture 2017 109th ANNUAL SALMAGUNDI THUMB BOXDec 8 - Dec 31, 2017 Salmagundi Club, New York, NY"Hello Dolly" Alpheous P. Cole AwardSOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT SCULPTORS’ ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITIONOct 1 - Nov 29, 2017LYME ART ASSOCIATION, Old Lyme, CT"Head Over Heels" People's Choice AwardAMERICAN ARTISTS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE 89TH ANNUAL GRAND NATIONAL EXHIBITIONOctober 20 - December 29, 2017Online Exhibition NEW YORK, NYJurors David A. Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Jacqueline Kamin “Survivor” Helen G. Oehler Memorial Award SOUTH COUNTY ART ASSOCIATIONS ALL MEDIA II EXHIBITIONOctober 19 - November 11, 2017SOUTH COUNTY ART ASSOCIATION Juror Debra Lee Valeri “Amun Ra” Honorable MentionALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA 104TH ANNUAL EXHIBITIONAug 31- Sept 17, 2017 SALMAGUNDI CLUB, NEW YORK, NY Juror Lisa Chalif, Curator Heckscher Museum of Art “The Game of Cat and Mouse” The Lindsey Morris Memorial AwardSOUTH COUNTY ART ASSOCIATIONS ALL MEDIA EXHIBITIONJune 8 - July 8, 2017SOUTH COUNTY ART ASSOCIATION Juror Kathy Hodge, Painter “Survivor” 2nd Place67th NATIONAL EXHIBIT OF CONTEMPORARY REALISM IN ARTMay 1 – 19, 2016 Academic Artists AssociationJuror: Robert Obrien AWS, NWS; John C. TraynorVERNON COMMUNITY ART CENTER, Vernon, CT“Amun Ra” Honorable Mention AwardWHAT SCARES YOU MOST March 4-26, 2017DEBLOIS GALLERY, Newport, RI “Gaia” Peoples’ Choice 2016NEW ENGLAND LANDSCAPE INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONSept 1 – Nov 5, 2016 LYME ART ASSOCIATION, Old Lyme, CTRapunzel” Peoples’ Choice AwardSOCIETY OF CT SCULPTORS’ ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITIONSept 1 – Nov 5, 2016LYME ART ASSOCIATION, Old Lyme, CT “Leviathan” 2nd PlaceSOCIETY OF CT SCULPTORS SUMMR EXHIBITION EXHIBITIONAug 1 – Aug 26, 2016ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, Acton, CT “Spirit” Members Choice Award, 3rd PlaceCLWAC 119TH ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITIONCATHERINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUBDec 2 – 19, 2014 Jurors: Marilyn J. Friedman, Sculptor and Instructor, Art Students League, NY; Gwen Pier, Executive Director of National Sculpture Society. NATIONAL ARTS CLUB, New York, NY “Bagheera” Leila Garden Sawyer Award for Sculpture2015ON THE ROAD October 3 – November 15, 2015COURTYARD GALLERY, Water St., Mystic, CT “Go Ask Alice” Peoples’ Choice Award & 2nd Place2014SOCIETY OF CT SCULPTORS 20TH ANNUAL SCULPTURE EXHIBITIONAug 1 – Sept. 20, 2014LYME ART ASSOCIATION, Old Lyme, CT “Stubborn is as Stubborn Does” Members Memorial AwardSALMAGUNDI CLUB ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITIONAug 11 – Aug 29, 2014 SALMAGUNDI CLUB, New York, NY“Dreamer” Members Memorial Award THREE RIVERS COLLEGE ARTSHOWApril 12 – May 3, 2014BEAN & LEAF, New London, CT“Green Goddess” Best in Show CLWAC 119TH ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITIONCATHERINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUBDec 2 – 19, 2014 Jurors: Marilyn J. Friedman, Sculptor and Instructor, Art Students League, NY; Gwen Pier, Executive Director of National Sculpture Society. NATIONAL ARTS CLUB, New York, NY “Bagheera” Leila Garden Sawyer Award for Sculpture