Illinois-based artist Patrick Earl Hammie uses figuration across traditional media to examine past and present black diasporic experiences and themes related to cultural identity, social equity, narrative, and the body in visual culture. Through portraits and allegories, Hammie explores the complexities of identity, emotion, and family by layering existing histories with new narratives and navigating the tensions between feeling and knowledge, power and violence, and vulnerability and tenderness.
Content advisory: this exhibit includes graphic, large-scale depictions of surgical birth procedures, which may not be comfortable for all viewers.
A special reception with the artist will be held on Thursday, September 30.
Patrick Earl Hammie will give a free presentation on his work on Friday, October 1. Watch the recorded conversation here.
About the artist:
Patrick Earl Hammie is an American visual artist who examines personal and shared black diasporic experiences and offers stories that expand how we express notions of gender and race today. Through portraits and allegories, Hammie explores the complexities of identity, emotion, and family by layering existing histories with new narratives, navigating the tensions between feeling and knowledge, power and violence, vulnerability and tenderness. He works primarily with themes related to cultural identity, social justice, storytelling, and the body in visual culture. He is informed by traditions of Romanticism and Expressionism, as well as mythology, cultural lore, and modern media. Hammie’s work invites viewers to reconsider the ideals that we inherit and expands the stories that we encounter and expect.
Born in 1981 in New Haven, CT, and now based in Champaign, IL, Hammie studied drawing at Coker University (2004), and received an MFA in painting from University of Connecticut (2008). Much of Hammie’s education was in the Liberal Arts, including dance, music, and psychology. Hammie is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Hammie’s works have been exhibited in galleries throughout the U.S. and abroad including David C. Driskell Center, College Park, MD; Lunder Art Center, Cambridge, MA; Yeelen Gallery, Miami; The Drawing Center, New York; Manifest Creative Research Gallery, Cincinnati; Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Büdelsdorf, Germany; Dakshinachitra Museum, Chennai, India. His works are included in public and private collections including the David C. Driskell Center, College Park, MA; Kinsey Institute Collections, Bloomington, IN; Kohler Company Collection, Kohler, WI; JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, New York; John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI; William Benton Museum of Art, Storrs, CT. He is a recipient of the Puffin Foundation Award (2017), Arnold O. Beckman Research Award from the University of Illinois (2016), Alliance of Artists Communities Fellowship Award with the Joyce Foundation (2011), Tanne Foundation Award (2010), Zhou B. Art Center Portrait Award (2009). Hammie was an artist-in-residence at the John Michael Kohler Art Center and the first recipient of the Alice C. Cole Fellowship from Wellesley College.
Recent solo exhibitions include Imperfect Exchange, Melton Gallery, Edmond, OK. Recent group exhibitions include Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth., Washington State History Museum, Tacoma; Painting the Figure Now, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago.
Gallery Hours
Tuesday* - Friday, 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturdays, 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday - Monday**, closed
*We will be closed on Tuesday, November 2 for Election Day
**We will be open on Monday, September 27
