AGAC Top 25 Finalist - Mike Hillier - David in Steel

Top 25 Finalist in the AGAC 2023

- Artist: Mike Hillier

- Name: David in Steel

- Size:  2000 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm

- Medium: Steel on wooden plinth

- Price: R97,500

Mike is a South African sculptor, and he has been awarded as a Top 25 Finalist in the ARTi Gallery Art Competition 2023!  

About this piece: 

I work in steel (sculpture) and am inspired by the genius of Michelangelo.

About the Artist: 

Mike Hillier grew up in Zambia, lived most of his adult life in Cape Town, and has been a resident of Riebeek Kasteel since 2009. He has been active in creative arts for all of his life, initially as a visual artist, then working in timber and later progressing to sculpting and set building in various materials. Over the last few years, he has worked in steel and steel-reinforced concrete to create large animals and other forms. The elephants on the village square, as well as several larger sculptures around the Riebeek valley, both public and private, are from his studio. The Mother and Child statue at the entrance to Goedgedacht is also his work.

 His life career as an artist has been incredibly varied, from fabrications, props and sets for movies and advertisements, to designing themed functions and decorating halls of fantasy. He has produced bronzes, and sculptures in other mediums, manufactured furniture, and carved heirloom rocking horses, which was one of his favourites for 25 years. He was known during this time as The Rocking Horse Man and was featured on television and in several magazine articles. He has held children’s and adult workshops for cement sculptures and armature design. He won the silver medal for a butter-sculpting competition many years ago for his exceptional creation of the caterpillar on the toadstool from Alice in Wonderland.