In the 1970s while studying at University of Michigan, amongst male peers who had been trained in welding and joinery, Oleszko was confronted with collapses of her sculptural work in traditional materials. Realizing her armatures could be her body and air itself, Oleszko subverted the phenomena of humiliation, reconfiguring herself into monumental works. “I was six feet tall and could carry anything I could make and not fall over. At that moment, my art walked out the door and I began using all the world as a stooge. Everything became a platform.” (Interview with Gyula Muskovics for The Kitchen, August 2024).

Pat's hats are a long-standing component of her all-encompassing practice, functioning much akin to a drawing practice. Oleszko sees an idea starting from the top of the head, which then informs the way the rest of the elements take shape, culminating oftentimes in performance, procession, and protest.