The Vault: Harlan W. Butt - Unmasked

Artist Bio:

Harlan W. Butt is an artist with over 40 years of experience working in metal and enamel who specializes in creating vessels inspired by the human relationship to wilderness and the natural environment. Harlan was a Regent’s Professor of Art at the University of North Texas where he taught jewelry and metalworking from 1976 to 2017. He is past President of the Enamelist Society, past President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and a Fellow of the American Crafts Council.

Harlan has been the Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park & Preserve in Alaska, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Acadia National Park in Maine and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. His work has been exhibited internationally and is represented in the permanent collections of the Enamel Arts Foundation in Los Angeles, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of Art & Design in New York City , the Mint Museum of Art & Craft in Charlotte, NC, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Denali National Park Visitor Center in Alaska, the Houston International Airport, the Wichita Center for the Arts, the National Gallery of Australia, the Cloisonné Enamelware Fureai Museum in Ama City, Japan and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Artist Statement:

"As an artist working in metal and enamel and writing haiku poetry, I have formed vessels which reflect themes, colors, textures, and the beauty, severity, and mystery of the natural world. The Earth, its plants and animals, geography, and landscape, inspire me to create and to try to convey some of the emotional response to being present in wilderness.

But I have also been concerned with how our environment is affected by and is affecting us as humans. COVID-19 has shaken us out of our illusion of being masters of the environment. It has reminded us of how vulnerable we really are, which connects us to all elements of the planet.

And finally, as someone who has a deep appreciation and love for our National Parks, and who has served as Artist-In-Residence at four National Parks, I hope my series of works inspired by these parks will, in turn, inspire others to visit, protect and, where possible, expand them.

The ghosts of mountains
Emerge from out of the mist 
And then disappear."

Harlan currently resides in Denton, Texas.