James Hill is a metal sculptor focused on contemporary abstract and figurative expressions of the human condition. With over thirty years of experience, his work is featured in galleries, public spaces, private collections, film and television. He has also taught metal sculpture at the University of California, Irvine. James currently lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In sculpting metal, I strive for extraordinary precision and economy to reveal the fragile beauty of life in an unyielding material world.

I love the raw color and feel of metal. Engaging with a material that is by nature cold, rigid and inflexible is inherently difficult and challenges my creativity and artistic technique. Through a process of designing, hand forging, welding, and sanding to a fine finish, I seek to reveal the essence of the human figure and relationship between forms to convey universal emotions. The surface quality, richness, and texture are specific to each piece I create by incorporating chemical patinas, oxidizers, and grinding finishes. I also consider the dynamic presence of the negative space arising between each individual form as a central component of my composition.

I especially like to use steel as a metaphor that expresses the human condition—we are challenged to be both flexible and durable, beautiful and formidable. The amazing possibilities and stubborn resistance of metal illustrate the paradoxical nature of the material and make it the most expressive material for me as an artist.