Eric Hultquist Collection

My family left Alcoa, Tennessee and moved to Arizona just as I started high school. I began working in ceramics at that time and I continued this through college. I loved the “magic” of the potter’s wheel; at the slightest touch, the clay seemed to shape itself into whatever form I imagined. At twenty-two, I moved to Los Angeles and worked for a short time as an artist at an animation studio in Santa Monica, before moving to the San Joaquin Valley where I graduated from Fresno Pacific University. I returned to Arizona in 1995, after completing a Master’s Degree in Washington D.C. and for a short time taught computer art and animation at Cad Institute in Tempe. Following that, I taught classes in World Religions and Critical Reading at Mesa Community College for sixteen years.

Shortly after returning to Arizona, I became fascinated with Functional Art. I designed some occasional tables and joined The Furniture Society. Then I began taking classes in Neon Sculpture and Structural Steel at ASU under professor James White. Jim always said: “No one starts out to be a sculptor. They try everything else and one day, they kind of fall into it,” and that’s just what happened. At the same time, I began taking classes in Structural Metal Sculpture. Shortly after I began classes, Jim picked up an acetylene torch, heated a steel rod and bent it like putty. “Steel is just like clay,” he said, “all you have to do is heat it up a little.” My jaw fell. I was hooked! I loved working in ceramics but it had never dawned on me that steel could be turned into putty with a little heat. At that moment steel became my favorite medium. Though I took Neon Sculpture time after time over the years, nothing ever grabbed me like steel. At some point, during this time I built a lamp out of steel. Then I built another and another. Although there are similar stylistic elements in my work, each lamp is different. So, I just kept on building lamps – a fusion of light and shades!

Additionally, I’ve also written a book, The Fundamentals of Mixology about the art of signature cocktail creation. I’m a long-time resident of Mesa and my focus continues to be on Functional Sculpture and Art Furniture. at present, I’m engaged in creating Art Lamps full time.

http://www.ericartlamps.com