Sandy Hill

Artist Statement

Sandy Hill’s mixed media work merges abstract painting with original photography to craft mythical, allegorical worlds—parallel realities that exist just beyond the veil of the familiar. Within these dreamlike landscapes, fantastical creatures emerge, born from imagination yet deeply connected to the human experience. Each piece tells a story, evoking emotions such as joy, sorrow, fear, confidence, power, surprise, and a touch of whimsy. Through this fusion of mediums, Hill invites viewers to step into a realm where the extraordinary and the deeply personal intertwine.

Sandy’s process begins with a freeform exploration using acrylic paints, markers, drywall mud and various other mediums and tools to create a background. When an intriguing surface emerges from this process, Hill lets this surface inform the selection of the theme and imagery that will coalesce with the background. The imagery is sourced from Hill’s own photo library of nearly 90,000 images, which are then selected, sized, adjusted, printed and painstakingly cut out. Various disparate images are then combined to create the final scene. This process often requires several takes -- Putting together complete compositions and then scrapping them to begin with a new image. Once a composition is settled on, the images are carefully adhered and varnished for a cohesive finish.

Sandy grew up in Arkansas but upon discovering New Mexico after college, she found her true home in the West. Her passion for spending time in the outdoors: hiking, climbing, paddle boarding and camping, provides endless inspiration for her work. Most of the photography she incorporates was taken on these myriad adventures. Hill often combines elements of nature with mechanical images to emphasize the effect of industrial society on her beloved natural world.