Philip Hitchcock has challenged people with his art for over 20 years. Surfacing within Hitchcock's provocative, innovative, and sometimes-controversial work are recurring themes of heroism and forebearance which underscore the trials of human endeavors. The strange beauty of fragmentation, brokenness, and suffering, depicted in his sculptural forms serve to emphasize the spiritual struggle and resilience of human identity.
Hitchcock's work bridges high-photo realism and high-fantasy art, creating a realm wherein the imaginary is made manifest, and the emblematic made real:
"I capture realism in my work, but heighten and magnify it by adding layers and startling embellishments. The work is metaphorical for the human condition in modern society at the threshold of the 21st century; a core of realism surrounded by the more unnerving images we wish the world to notice and judge.
The pieces start by taking cast impressions from models. Frequently, having classical themes, a piece is constructed in several sections, often using two, three, or more models for a single artwork. Materials include cast concrete, steel, and fiberglass. Finishes are achieved through combinations of acrylic and enamel paints, reactive paints and oxidizing solutions, and epoxy based resins. I work with the most familiar object - the human body - to make it new as an art-image."
Hitchcock has garnered numerous awards and accolades for his work including the 2006 Artistic Achievement and Public Relations Award from the Association of Lifecasting International, (ALI); the 1997 Broadcast Design Award for MGM/UA's Outer Limits limited edition sculpture, and the designation of being among "The OUT 100" in 2001, an annual list of the 100 most influential gay men and lesbians in America, according to OUT magazine. He is the author of Dark Impressions: The Art of Philip Hitchcock
Commercially, Hitchcock has been commissioned to create work for St. Louis Pride, Inc., Central Institute for the Deaf, World Wrestling Entertainment, Fox-TV's The Swan, Disneyland's Tomorrowland, the L.A. Stage Alliance, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc., and Delta Air Lines, among others. His works have been featured in solo and group exhibits and are in prestigious collections such as Leslie-Lohman Foundation, New York, NY; Mark Taper Family/Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA; Henry Jewelry, Hong Kong; Barbie Benton, Aspen, CO; and Michele Rodriguez, Cagliari, Italy.
A magna cum laude graduate from UCLA, Hitchcock returned home to St. Louis in 2005. By opening phd gallery, he is formalizing his commitment to the revitalization of St. Louis, especially the visual art scene.
Dark Impressions: The Art of Philip Hitchcock can be found in better bookstores everywhere and on Amazon.com.
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