‘My artwork is about human nature, judgments and the ability to see past the facade to what lies deeper beneath the surface.’

Dix Hills

“My artwork is about human nature, judgments and the ability to see past the facade to what lies deeper beneath the surface. I’ve been making art since I was a child and discovered natural clay at Garvies Point. I studied the arts in high school and college. I began as a painter, but I gravitated toward sculpture because I see the world more three-dimensionally.

“In order to support myself, I worked as a set designer and producer for theater, television, exhibitions and film as a member of the United Scenic Artists union. I created scenery for films such as ‘Noah’ and ‘Men in Black III.’ I also designed and sculpted animated displays for Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, FAO Schwarz and Gucci. In 2016, I opened a not-for-profit art space to share and expand the appreciation of the Arts on Long Island.

“Currently, I am concentrating on my own artwork and my exploration of materials. I use photography to capture images as elements that inform my work. I have always been interested in societal issues and focus on people who are either attention seekers or who keep to the shadows, the extreme sides of the seen and unseen of society.

My ultimate goal is to get my work seen by a larger audience so I can raise awareness and share its message of compassion.

“One of my muses was a tattoo artist named Diablo who I met in Long Island City. He has horn implants and is covered with tattoos. He looks threatening, but he’s a lovely man. Another sculpture created with papier-mâché titled ‘Love Birds’ reflects a man bonded to the pigeons of Washington Square Park. ‘For Sale, Baby Shoes Never Worn’ depicts a heavily pregnant woman hungrily eating soup while wearing baby shoes around her neck. She was photographed in Los Angeles on Skid Row.

“These are the people who most need society’s attention and help. I also created a series of artwork focusing on Kings Park’s defunct psychiatric center, which led to strong responses from the community it affected. My latest series, ‘Rooted in Humanity,’ was inspired by a trip to Bayard Arboretum and root formations. My ultimate goal is to get my work seen by a larger audience so I can raise awareness and share its message of compassion.”

Interviewed by Meagan Meehan