PATRICK HILL

b. 1978, Royal Oak, MI, USA

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Patrick Hill’s sculptures evolve from a sophisticated entwining of philosophical ideals in art history. His works – made from concrete substances such as stone, metal, and glass – are reminiscent of Constructivist artists such as Naum Gabo, whose industrial media was emblematic of 20th century progress and optimism. In Forming, Hill combines sculptural form with references to painting, incorporating tinted canvas into his composition. The soft redpurple hue is the result of a process of hand-dying, using pigments derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables; the organic aesthetic countering the rigid elements of glass and granite. Hill uses these references as a platform to engage with his own highly original approach to abstraction that highlights the precarious balance between the imposed harmony of structural order and the erratic perfection of nature.

 

 

Titled after the infamous San Fernando Valley street, Hill’s Magnolia Blvd exudes a tarnished suburban glamour. Glass panels, pierced with bronze piping, are mounted on a wooden base creating a framework of modern design elegance. Draped with pink and yellow canvases, Hill’s sculpture is visually arresting and seductive in its tactility. The folds of the fabric create juxtaposition between hard-edged composition and naturalistic forms that suggest the delicate folds of flowers or the sensual pliability of skin. Coating the material with a variety of materials, including botanical dyes, oil, and syrup, Hill’s canvases embody the tension between chemical reaction and biological decay, creating a monument that alludes to both iconic style and corrosive enchantment.