Influenced by a creative family—his grandmother’s intricate embroidery and his mother’s work as an illustrator and printmaker—sculptor Tom Hill developed a love for both drawing and making things by hand. While studying jewelry at Middlesex University in London, he began experimenting with alternative materials like plastics and paper, often creating large‑scale objects such as dance costumes that interacted with the body. This early blend of technical skill and playful exploration laid the groundwork for the distinctive wire sculptures he’s known for today.

For the past 30 years, Hill has honed a unique style that treats steel wire like a three‑dimensional sketch. With each twist, bend, and hammered curve, he captures the gestures and personality of birds, animals, and other subjects, transforming static metal into forms that feel alive. Shadows become part of the composition, adding depth and movement to his work. His creations range from intimate single pieces to expansive installations—like a flock of cedar waxwings seemingly flying through a modern Oakland home.

Hill’s imagination is boundless, with work that often blends whimsy and precision. Recent pieces include a crab puppet, a snail puppet, a luminous blue jellyfish, and a pair of crocodiles—each one rendered with the same attention to movement, balance, and character that defines his style. Whether playful or dramatic, his sculptures invite viewers to engage with them as living forms, not static objects.

In 2025, Hill is embarking on a new challenge: a “Noah’s Ark” alphabet, featuring pairs of animals from A to Z, each crafted from a single unbroken line of wire. Whether working on commissions or personal projects, he’s drawn to creating pieces in pairs or groups, finding that their interplay animates a space and sparks the imagination.

A longtime resident of San Francisco’s NOPA neighborhood, Hill continues to explore the expressive possibilities of wire, pushing the boundaries of what a simple line can convey. His work is a testament to how an artist’s hand can transform an industrial material into something that moves, breathes, and feels profoundly alive.