About David Hammons
Contemporary Conceptual Artist
Biography
David Hammons (b. 1943, Springfield, Illinois) is widely regarded as one of the most significant American artists of the contemporary era. His groundbreaking work has consistently challenged conventions and sparked critical dialogue about race, identity, and social justice in America.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1963, Hammons studied at the Otis Art Institute and Chouinard Art Institute. He first gained recognition in the late 1960s for his "Body Prints," where he greased his body with margarine and pressed it against paper, then dusted the impressions with powdered pigment.
In 1974, Hammons relocated to New York City, where he began creating sculptures and installations from found materials gathered from the streets of Harlem. His work often incorporates discarded objects—hair, bottle caps, chicken bones, basketballs—imbued with cultural and historical significance.
Artistic Practice
Hammons' multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, installation, performance, and mixed media, unified by a powerful conceptual approach.
Found Objects
Hammons elevates everyday materials and discarded objects, transforming them into powerful symbols that speak to African American experience and contemporary social issues.
Social Commentary
His work addresses systemic racism, cultural appropriation, and the commodification of art, often with incisive wit and profound insight.
Ephemeral Works
Many of Hammons' most significant works exist only in documentation or memory, challenging traditional notions of art as commodity.
Exhibitions & Recognition
David Hammons' work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Centre Pompidou.
2023
Solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles
2016
Retrospective at Mnuchin Gallery, New York
2014
Represented United States at São Paulo Biennial
2007
Major retrospective at L&M Arts, New York
1991
MacArthur Fellowship ("Genius Grant")
Artistic Philosophy
"I'm not a object-maker. I'm a thought-maker. The object is just a way of getting the thought across."
— David Hammons
Explore the Work
View David Hammons' powerful conceptual artworks and installations.