Artwork comes in many forms yet every once in a while, there comes an artist that comes up with an avant-garde concept that makes every work seem mundane. For example, consider Andy Warhol’s pop art in the 1960s.
Indianapolis has such an artist. His name is Lobyn Hamilton.
He doesn’t paint with oils, draw with charcoal or use other traditional mediums. He uses cut and broken vinyl records to create masterpieces.
Hamilton recently talked with the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper about his unique art, high profile collectors and the business of artistry.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: Tell me your origins in the arts.
Hamilton: I did art as a child. Actually, I was always really good at it. But this all started about eight years ago when I injured my leg. I was DJing at the time and because of my injury I couldn’t DJ. I was upset and I went down into my basement and started breaking up records out of frustration. A couple of months later, I came down and got the idea to do record art.
What was the first piece you created?
The first piece was Jimi Hendrix.
When did you realize you had something special?
I knew I had something when I showed my work at Broadway Methodist Church in their basement. I knew people liked it, but they said it when they came over to my house. I wanted to know what strangers said. People would ask me what the piece was made of and when I’d say vinyl, their face would change. It became significant to them because of the medium.
Are all your pieces of musicians?
It’s anywhere from pop culture icons to political icons. I’ve done Huey P. (Newton), Martin, Malcolm, Angela Davis. Marcus Garvey is my latest political piece. I like to do a good balance between rock, rap, pop, old school, classics and political icons.
What inspires your work?
A lot of images I do are already around my house through poster art my father would buy. This is my version of poster art. Other things inspire me too, like picking up an old Ebony magazine or my eclectic music collection. That’s why I have universal appeal. I can do a John Mellencamp, but I can also do The Last Poets.
Explain the process of creating a piece of artwork from records.
There’s one style where I take broken pieces of records and create something. Then there’s another way where I cut out the records. That takes a lot less time, like 20 hours but it varies on the project. The shards, that takes months to do because they have so much intricate detail.
Is it true you’ve sold your work to high profile celebrities?
Ironically the Jimi Hendrix was the first piece I sold. The first couple of pieces didn’t sell quickly, but yes! Some of them I can’t mention. Those I can are Tom Joyner and Russ Parr. The Indiana State Museum has one; the University of Illinois Cancer Research has a great piece of mine; also the TV show “Empire” has two pieces of mine. I just got signed on to do more work for the show. Ebony magazine just bought a piece. But I will say I sell no art in Indiana. I will repeat that—I sell no art here.
How do you feel about your success?
It’s interesting because if I didn’t have these things to validate me, I wouldn’t be newsworthy and I wouldn’t be able to push the brand. But for me it’s about the freedom and the progression. I’m like ‘hey, you went from the basement of your home to this being your main profession.’ I’m at home with my kids while I create a $6,000 piece or because Swizz Beatz buys a piece. But that’s a different type of validation.
Well, let’s talk about the business of the art world. Once you reach a certain level of popularity, you must make traditional business decisions. Was that hard?
It’s a necessary evil. I need to be visible. I can put these things on my resume so when I am speaking to someone they see my potential. This business side isn’t taught a lot at school. They do that generic ‘just follow your heart’ stuff which is true. But there’s a lot of red tape and art is somewhat an elitist genre. Art is essential for human existence, but it’s not essential for you to buy artwork.
So what’s next for you?
I just won a creative renewal grant from Eli Lilly and the Arts Council. I’ll be doing some things with Deckademics DJ school. I’m going to travel the world and visit vinyl shops and try to figure out my next series of work. Museum shows are in the works.
