Marcellus Hammond

I create art that explores the struggles we face but don’t always name—the fight between distraction and focus, fear and faith, identity and illusion. My work brings these hidden battles to the surface, using bold colors, layered textures, and unexpected materials like fabric, tufting, and earth-based elements.

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I take inspiration from artists who push the limits of portraiture, like Alice Neel,  Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and Amoako Boafo, as well as the Bay Area Figurative Movement’s expressive energy. Like Robert Rauschenberg, I mix painting with unconventional materials, creating work that feels raw and tactile. Inspired by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, I sometimes weave in photographic elements, layering past and present to create narratives that feel both personal and universal. In color, I look to Henri Matisse, whose bold palettes help me capture emotion and movement.

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Lately, my practice has also been influenced by Andy Warhol’s exploration of repetition and variation—the idea of creating versions of versions, where each iteration carries new weight and meaning. I’m interested in how an image transforms when reworked across different mediums—whether in print, fabric, or layered textures—and how these changes reflect the ways we wrestle with memory, identity, and perception over time.

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At its core, my work is about uncovering the struggles we carry and the resilience that keeps us moving forward. I build layers the way we build our lives—through experiences, memories, and the weight of the unseen. Some pieces feel chaotic, some quiet, but they all hold the same question:

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What are we up against, and what light still remains?