David Hammons is a highly influential American artist, renowned for his diverse and thought-provoking creations that span various mediums, often incorporating strategies of refusal, humor, and provocation.
Throughout his illustrious career, spanning over five decades, Hammons has consistently addressed pressing issues such as race, class, art history, the legacy of slavery, and the experiences of being an outsider, drawing heavily from his own life as a Black American.
Born in 1943 in Springfield, Illinois, Hammons relocated to Los Angeles in 1963 to pursue his passion for art. He initially attended Los Angeles City College and the Los Angeles Trade and Technical College before taking night classes at Otis Art Institute under the guidance of realist artist and activist Charles White.
In 1974, Hammons made the bold decision to relocate to New York, where he began to create sculptures from the discarded remnants of urban African American life, including hair gathered from barbershop floors, chicken bones, bottle caps, and empty liquor bottles.
One of his most iconic works is the Bliz-aard Ball Sale, which he staged in 1983 on a New York City sidewalk, selling snowballs of varying sizes to passersby. This groundbreaking action contributed to an ongoing conversation about the role of the artist and the value of art in the world beyond the confines of museums and galleries.
Hammons' most recent creations feature obscured surfaces, often covered in tarpaulins, burlap, or old furniture, as seen in his Untitled piece. This body of work has continued to spark important discussions about the role of the artist and the value of art in a world that extends far beyond the confines of the museum or gallery.
