Hamilton Dixon
has been sculpting steel as an art form for 20 years. He began working
with metal as a welder on an offshore oilrig. Hamilton attended Turley
Forge School in Sante Fe, New Mexico where he learned basic techniques
in forging steel. He then opened a studio in Northwest Georgia, where
he worked on small commissions for private residences, leading to larger
projects, a distinctive style, and an established reputation, In 1991,
he and his business relocated to Dayton, Ohio.
Dixon chose metal
as his medium because of its weight, texture, heaviness and most of
all, permanence. To manipulate steel, he works with a gas forge, a 300lb.
Swedish anvil, a 50 lb. Murray Power Hammer, and both electric and gas
weld equipment.
Outside of large
pieces of freestanding sculpture, some of Dixon's creations include
exterior pieces such as railings, gates, and weathervanes. Interior
pieces include lamps, mirrors, beds, and tables, incorporating sculpture
with function. Most of these works can be found in private residences
across the United States.