Frances Bagley, a Tennessee native, holds multiple degrees from Arizona State University and an MFA from the University of North Texas, Denton. Initially a potter, she apprenticed with world-renowned British ceramicist Michael Leach at Yelland Pottery in Devon, England in the early 1970s.

Bagley has since moved away from ceramics, but vessel shapes and freestanding forms still pervade her work. She creates human and animal shapes out of bronze, as well as other, often unexpected, materials. Sometimes these are covered with weaving or dramatically-colored draping that gives new skin to her forms. With her husband, sculptor Tom Orr, she often collaborates on public works and major installations, including the Wildlife Water Theater at Dallas’ White Rock Lake, a sculptural bird habitat that incorporates solar power.

Bagley's long and important Texas career was recognized by the Dallas Contemporary by granting her the Legend Award in 1995. Bagley’s impressive resume includes exhibitions at The Jones Center for Contemporary Art, Austin (2002); the Longview Museum of Fine Art, Longview, TX; and the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, Summit, NJ. She currently lives and works in Dallas.