"Everybody's Bolos" displays the work of 30 contemporary artists invited to bring their unique voices to bear on the bolo tie format. The exhibition was co-organized and co-curated by Ana M. Lopez, professor of Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry, at the University of North Texas; Brian Fleetwood, assistant professor of Studio Art at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma; and Hannah Toussaint, metalsmith and craft artist, UNT alum and current M.F.A. candidate at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Everybody’s Bolos: Inclusivity through Craft

An exhibition of 30 contemporary bolo ties from a variety of perspectives.

Exhibition

"Everybody's Bolos"
Feb. 6­–May 10, 2024
CVAD Gallery, UNT Art Building, Room 160
Reception: Feb. 8, 5–7 p.m.
Free | Open to the Public
Gallery Hours

Instagram: @EverybodysBolos

Gallery Hours

CVAD Gallery, Room 160
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: Noon–5 p.m.
Thursday: Fall & Spring: Noon–8 p.m. | Summer: Noon–5 p.m.
Sunday–Monday: Closed
Map & Directions

"Everybody's Bolos" explores the expressive potential of the bolo tie, its history in marginalized communities, and its current relevance as a gender-neutral form of adornment. This research will bring about a new art piece and be the basis for this traveling exhibition of contemporary interpretations of the bolo tie, along with an accompanying catalog essay.

"On a deeper level, this exhibition is about recognizing stereotypes, exploring them, and expanding beyond their limitations through the agency and inclusivity of craft," Lopez says.