ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Gary Hill: Giving Objects a Voice

artist · 2026-04-23

Gary Hill, an American artist who began as a sculptor before transitioning to video, explored the construction of images through sound until 1989. His installations gradually developed their own voice via a device that took over from the soundtrack. His engagement with sound poetry, particularly the work of George Quasha, led him to create a fragile ensemble of representations of speech acts.

Key facts

  • Gary Hill is an American artist.
  • He started as a sculptor before moving to video.
  • Until 1989, his work built images using sound material.
  • His installations later found their own voice through a device replacing the soundtrack.
  • He was influenced by sound poetry, especially George Quasha.
  • His work constitutes a fragile set of representations of speech acts.

Entities

Artists

  • Gary Hill
  • George Quasha

Sources