Featured image: Direct Line, Michael Hemphill, 2014, mixed media assemblage, 48 x 36 x 15 in. / 121.92 x 91.44 x 38.1 cm.
Michael Hemphill’s mixed media assemblages offer a powerful commentary on societal issues, addiction, and human vulnerability.
Michael Hemphill creates mixed media assemblages that explore addiction, urban decay, and societal issues through haunting, symbolic compositions and layered textures.
By combining found objects, rich textures, and symbolic elements, Hemphill crafts works that are as evocative as they are unsettling. His pieces delve into themes of addiction, urban decay, and the fragility of the human condition. Each assemblage invites viewers to confront harsh truths about the world we live in.
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Oh NO! Really, Michael Hemphill, 2020, mixed media assemblage, 29 x 14 x 14 in. / 73.66 x 35.56 x 35.56 cm.
Oh NO! Really (2020) captures the eerie allure of fortune-telling and the hidden consequences of seeking answers to life’s uncertainties. The assemblage features a haunting face peering out from behind strands of beads, framed in a red border with tarot cards and a detached hand below. This work evokes a sense of foreboding and curiosity, as if the viewer is glimpsing into a dark carnival booth. The juxtaposition of playful and sinister elements serves as a metaphor for humanity’s desire to uncover the unknown, often at great personal cost.
Heroin, Michael Hemphill, 2021, mixed media assemblage, 20 x 21 x 6 in. / 50.8 x 53.34 x 15.24 cm.
In Heroin (2021), Hemphill confronts the devastating impact of addiction through a visceral and unsettling composition. The assemblage features a mannequin head with vacant eyes, surrounded by syringes, tubes, and a disembodied foot. The raw textures of the materials mimic the chaos and destruction caused by substance abuse. The piece’s medical and industrial aesthetic underscores the systemic issues surrounding addiction, highlighting the intersection of personal pain and societal neglect. This work is a poignant reminder of the human cost of addiction and the complexities of recovery.
The Back Alleys of New Orleans, Michael Hemphill, 2024, mixed media, 21 x 16 x 8 in. / 53.34 x 40.64 x 20.32 cm.
The Back Alleys of New Orleans (2024) explores themes of urban decay and hidden lives. The assemblage features a cage-like structure enclosing a skull-like face, colorful capsules, and various objects symbolizing vice and survival. The muted tones of the outer shell contrast with the vibrant capsules above, creating a stark dichotomy between the allure and the grim reality of the streets. Hemphill’s intricate layering of objects invites viewers to contemplate the unseen struggles of marginalized communities, capturing the city’s haunting beauty and resilience.
Michael Hemphill’s assemblages collectively delve into the darker facets of society, blending symbolism and raw materiality to evoke emotional and intellectual responses. Through his works, he shines a light on addiction, urban despair, and the human condition, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. Hemphill’s art serves as both a critique and a call to action, urging society to address these pressing issues with compassion and awareness.
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Tell Someone, Michael Hemphill, 2017, assemblage, 30 x 48 in. / 76.2 x 121.92 cm.
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