Diana Pumpelly Bates is a sculptor and public artist working in bronze, iron, and steel. Pumpelly Bates was born in 1938 and grew up mainly in New York. Later in life, she attended Santa Clara University and San José State University (SJSU). Pumpelly Bates began her art career painting and teaching art classes for children. In this interview, Pumpelly Bates discusses her parents, including their Bahá'í faith and connections to the Harlem Renaissance; living in New York, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Vermont; work history; marriage to jazz musician Art Blakey, travel to Europe and Japan, and connections to other musicians; sisters' lives and careers; early painting exhibitions in Vermont in the 1960s; teaching art classes for children; remarriage and move to Santa Clara, California, in 1969; attending De Anza Community College, Santa Clara University, and SJSU; artistic move toward sculpture, including inspiration, and changes in materials and scale; mentorship; relationship with other artists, including Titus Kaphar and Amelia Kroll Solomon; public artwork, including pieces like Anchored and Albus, as well as collaboration with other artists; children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; arts community in San José; importance of family homes in Vermont and San José; and plans for the future.