Items Similar to Song from my Father by Lesley Hilling - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15
Lesley HillingSong from my Father by Lesley Hilling - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture2024
2024
About the Item
This tower is a deeply personal piece for Lesley Hilling, dedicated to the memory of her father, Pete Hilling (1926–2016), and men like him—those who worked with their hands, repaired, built, and crafted. The artwork pays homage to a generation who had workshops or sheds at the bottom of the garden, filled with tools and remnants of a time when things were made to last. Some of Pete's tools, including his plane, chisels, and drills, are enclosed within the structure, while spent bullets, rivets, and screws from his shed decorate the piece, evoking a pre-plastic era of craftsmanship.
Interwoven into the tower are photographs of Pete, from his childhood and as a young man in the Navy during World War II, as well as images of his family. These photographs, placed behind magnifying glasses, are deliberately distorted, representing the way time and memory can shift and blur. The photos guide viewers through the passage of time, reflecting on the process of aging and the ephemeral nature of life.
About the Artist:
Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep connection to the past, incorporating items like cigarette cards, shells, old photos, clock mechanisms, and magnifying glasses. These objects are not just materials but storytellers, inviting viewers to unravel the narratives within each piece. As Lesley herself notes, “the key to the story is with the viewer.”
Originally trained as a graphic designer, Lesley transitioned from design to art over the years, drawing inspiration from artists like Joseph Cornell and Louise Nevelson. Her early work with box constructions has since evolved into larger wall pieces and towering sculptures that evoke both nostalgia and a desire to preserve forgotten fragments of history. Jane England, a notable commentator, describes her art as “a powerful sense of longing to preserve the fragments of the past, a desire for order, a passionate and mysterious evocation of lost moments.”
Lesley’s artistic practice is deeply tied to her life in Brixton, south London, where she has lived for over forty years with her partner Nel. Together, they are active members of the Brixton Housing Co-op, tending to their allotment and sharing their home with two dogs. Lesley’s work is a testament to the beauty of reclaimed materials and the stories they can hold, offering viewers a glimpse into lost moments and hidden memories.
- Creator:Lesley Hilling (English)
- Creation Year:2024
- Dimensions:Height: 47.25 in (120 cm)Width: 27.56 in (70 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU930316022282
About the Seller
4.8
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2015
1stDibs seller since 2018
236 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 5 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: London, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllGame for the Living - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture
Located in DE
Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep connection to the pa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Found Objects
Noir - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture
Located in DE
Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep connection to the pa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Found Objects
Cabinet of Curiosities - Contemporary salvaged wood found objects Sculpture
Located in DE
Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep connection to the pa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Found Objects
Ubik by Lesley Hilling - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture
Located in DE
This piece gradually transitions in tone from white through grey into black, creating a delicate and intricate structure that houses small artifacts of memory. The found objects and ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Found Objects
High Density by Lesley Hilling - Contemporary salvaged wood Sculpture
Located in DE
About the Artist:
Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep c...
Category
2010s Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Found Objects
Withstand II by Neil Wood Figurative Contemporary Steel Sculpture
By Neil Wood
Located in DE
Neil Wood is a professional sculptor and fine artist with many years' experience lecturing in fine art and sculpture at institutions in the UK. He has worked in various settings; in ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
You May Also Like
"An Exact Record Of How It Happened", Green, Red, and White Sculpture
By Jedediah Morfit
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This free-standing sculpture titled "An Exact Record Of How It Happened" is an original artwork by Jedediah Morfit made of plaster, paint, wax, thermoplastic, epoxy, wood, rope. This piece measures 33.25"h x 10"w x 14"d.
BIO Jedediah Morfit received his MFA in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2005, where he was awarded the Sylvia Leslie Herman Young Scholarship and the Award Of Excellence. He was a Fellow at the Center For Emerging Visual Artists from 2007-2009, and received a New Jersey Council On the Arts Fellowship for sculpture in 2009. He received the Louise Kahn Award for Sculpture from the Woodmere Art Museum in 2006, and was awarded the Dexter Jones Award for Bas Relief from the National Sculpture Society in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, he was commissioned to create a series of new work for Artlantic:Wonder, which was named one of the 50 best...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Plaster, Paint, Wax, Epoxy Glue, Found Objects
Coin Cunt XXXIII
By Suzanna Scott
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original sculpture from Suzanna Scott's ongoing "Coin Cunt" series made from a kisslock coin purse and thread. The piece measures approximately 4in x 4in.
ABOUT // Suzan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Thread, Found Objects
Coin Cunt XXVII
By Suzanna Scott
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original navy blue sculpture from Suzanna Scott's ongoing "Coin Cunt" series made from a kisslock coin purse and thread. The piece measures approximately 4in x 4in.
ABOU...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Thread, Found Objects
Matchstick Head
By David Mach
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A sculpture by David Mach. "Matchstick Head" is a small sculpture executed in matchsticks & depicting an abstracted mask by contemporary artist David Mach.
Category
20th Century Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Found Objects
"Iridescence, " Mixed Media Sculpture
By Michael Thompson
Located in Chicago, IL
Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his travels. In his ongoing series of memory jugs, Thompson adorns stoneware vessels with a kaleidoscope of ceramic shards, found objects, and pocket-sized trinkets he collected over the course of his life.
Also known as forget-me-not jugs or spirit jars...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
"Pompeii, " Mixed Media Sculpture
By Michael Thompson
Located in Chicago, IL
Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his travels. In his ongoing series of memory jugs, Thompson adorns stoneware vessels with a kaleidoscope of ceramic shards, found objects, and pocket-sized trinkets he collected over the course of his life.
Also known as forget-me-not jugs or spirit jars, memory jugs are African American folk art objects that honor a loved one who has recently passed. Small tokens and mementos of the deceased are gathered and affixed to the exterior of a jug or vase, an abundance of memories that celebrates a life lived to the fullest.
Michael Thompson applies this tradition to his own practice, creating tactile assemblages of this and that. Formed in the manner of collage, each jug honors the lost memories of generations past and his own memories of personally discovering each item. With varied sources for materials including Kyoto, Turkey, and Mexico, a great number of the found shards are 18th and 19th century ceramics...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Wood With Glass Sculptures
Box Hill
Used Tower Garden
1926 Box
Wood Cigarette
Wood Sculpture Tower
England Tool Box
Magnifying Glass Large
Cigarette Cards
Cigarette Box Wood
English Salvage
Bullet Glass
Early Magnifying Glass
Used Clock Tools
Chisel Hand Tool
Dogs Garden Garden Sculpture
Tower Clock Hands
Navy Clock