Meet Hollis Hildebrand-Mills | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hollis Hildebrand-Mills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hollis, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is an intrinsic part of being an artist. When I have created work, I find that displaying it in front of people is a risk because the art work is personal. Applying to juried exhibitions and approaching galleries is also a risk because I have a fear of rejection. But I get a thrill out of taking the risk and the thrill outweighs the fear. I always feel that an artist should aim for the highest level in the art world. I found that’s where my success has come from. When I do succeed after taking a risk, there is another fear that pops up, creating work again on the same level that earned me the original success. So risk and fear and success go together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“An artist earns the right to call himself a creator only when he admits to himself that he is but an instrument.” – Henry Miller

My art is a reflection of what is going on in the world at the time of process. The internal structure of my work is derived from Renaissance paintings. Some symbolism comes from that era also. But these things are conscious. Like Henry Miller says, the subconscious is absorbing the space surrounding the act of creation and puts forth work, apart from what the conscious mind “knows.” The mystery of creation.

“Divine Imagery is Everywhere” (TM) is my trademark…and belief.

My goal is to make paintings (or collages) that resonate with timeless art as well as reflect the time in which we are living. I get my craft from being fortunate enough to have attended several excellent art schools. Moore College of Art and Design, where I earned a BFA and studied with photographer Dave Heath. I also took degree program post-graduate classes at the Atlanta College of Art with Fred Gregory, a Joseph Albers disciple, who proofed Albers’ book on color. I studied classical drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and mentored with Peter Forakis, notable sculptor, founder of the Park Place group in NYC. I exhibit in galleries around the country, particularly Atlanta and New York.

I am represented by Ceres Gallery in New York.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Virginia Highlands neighborhood; my studio in Little Five Points, Alan Avery Art Company, Thomas Deans Fine Art, EyeDrum Art & Music Gallery, Swan House, White House Diner in Buckhead, My Favorite Place, the DeKalb Farmers’ Market, George’s Deli on Highland, and Black Rock Mountain

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Anne Umland, Senior Curator, Dept. of Painting & Sculpture Museum of Modern Art; Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic for NEW YORK MAGAZINE, 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism; Jerry Cullum, author at Arts ATL; Howard Pousner, Arts Editor, AJC; Eye Drum Gallery; Callanwolde; Felicia Feaster, Arts Editor Creative Loafing; Steve Dollar, Freelance Journalist; Fred Gregory & Tom Francis & Alan Loehle, ATL College of Art, Ceres Gallery, NYC; Rhonda Schaller, Asst Vice President & Professor, Pratt Institute; Kris Brandenburger, Director of the School of Undergraduate Studies at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA; Peter Forakis, mentorship with Peter, Sculptor (Atlanta Gateway); Herbert Creecy, Artist; Jonathan Demme, Film Director; :”Weird Al” Yankovic, Musician; Perri Neri, Exec Director REFRIGERATOR POETRY; Armando Roche, Personal Trainer; Imani Evans, Exec. Director Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community; Abdul Mannan, WRFG Radio, Tina Cox, Exec. Director Paradise Garden Foundation; Madeline Jobe; Marjie Berman & Ed Cook; Rita & Craig Stern; Lyla, Pepper, Simi & Marvin, Gia, Ghosta, BB, Bloobie & Pickle and Doug.

Website: www.hollishildebrand-mills.com

Instagram: @hhildebrandmills

Linkedin: Hollis Hildebrand-Mills

Twitter: @Hildebrand-Mills

Facebook: Hollis Hildebrand-Mills

Other: Wordpress Blog Hollis Hildebrand-Mills Divine Imagery Is Everywhere (TM)

Image Credits
Tom Meyer Photography Emma Ming Kayhart