Biography

A native of Minnesota, Gary moved to Arizona in 1971. He earned his Master of Fine Art degree at Arizona State University, where he began working on large-scale sculpture, directly influenced by the Southwest. Though the largest of his works are favorites because of the visual impact, the majority of his works are in the 3 to 6 foot range.

He has vast experience in creating site-specific sculptures for clients and collectors, and frequently works with architects, designers and individuals to solve the visual needs of a given space. Slater works with stainless steel, copper, bronze, and combinations of metals and finishes. Working within a geometric framework, he has found a great variety of sculptural forms to keep his works fresh and stimulating.

He has created large (28') water feature sculptures and small (24") pedestal sculptures; wall relief sculptures, “multiple original" sculptures, and edition bronzes. Gary was also named "Master of the Southwest" by Phoenix Home and Garden magazine, March of 2003. Only a select few artists and craftsmen at the top of their profession are awarded this once-a-year title. To date he has created over 500 sculptures since he began his career, with work in corporate, public, and private collections throughout the United States and the world.

Artist Statement
 
Metal is fascinating , and the various finishes and combinations of metals, textures, forms in concert with other elements, such as water, are almost endless. I continue to experiment with all of the avenues that metal offers; at times one might wonder if I have a signature style. That is not as important to me as finding new ways to work with metals and forms, and explore new ways to utilize materials.
The expression that I keep coming back to, however, is the combination of geometric stainless steel and free-formed hand textured copper. The cool surface of the stainless welded with the rich brown or green copper, and lately, combined with other metals and materials, mostly bronze or glass, adds richness to my overall sculptural expression. I am completely captivated by crisp forms with the inherent need for craftsmanship; yet the rough found object elicits a response that says,” hands off---I am complete". Polished materials and reflective surfaces have always had value association; patina and oxidized metals have a depth and warmth of their own, and I enjoy working with both.
Ultimately, my legacy will be that I didn't settle in for a comfortable style, that if you have seen one sculpture, you have seen them all; surprises are what make art interesting.

Awards
 
Master of the Southwest, Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine
Architectural Excellence Award: Art in Public Places, Chandler, Arizona
Presidential Citation, Arizona AIA
Excellence Award, Art in Private Development, City of Tempe, Arizona

Selected Collections
 
Albright College, Reading, PA
Altamont School, Birmingham, Ala
Ambassador Row Shopping Center, Lafayette, LA
Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
Arizona Commerce Bank
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
AT&T, Phoenix, AZ
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA
Center Park II, Calverton, MD
Charles Goddard Center for the Arts, Ardmore, OK
Chase Manhattan Bank, Tempe, AZ
City of Colorado Springs, Co
City of Glendale, AZ
City of Mesa Civic Center, Mesa, AZ
City of Monterrey Park, CA
City of Palo Alto, CA
City of Phoenix, AZ
Commodore Savings Associates, Dallas, TX
Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX
Desert Samaritan Hospital, Mesa, AZ
Grand Princess Cruise Ship
GTE Place, Dallas, TX
Gwinett Commerce Center, Atlanta, GA
International Harvester, Chicago, IL
Metro Center Office Building, Albuquerque, NM
MicroAge, Tempe, AZ
Nabisco Corporation, East Hanover, NJ
New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Peat, Marwick & Mitchell, Dallas, TX
Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Community College, Phoenix, AZ
Ptarmigan Place Business Park, Denver, CO
Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI
Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ
Sea Princess Cruise Ship
Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, AZ
Stetson University, Deland, Florida
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Western Electric, Phoenix
WTTW Television, Chicago, IL
Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ