David Hammons: A Sculptor of Urban Echoes David Hammons, born in Springfield, Illinois, on July 24, 1943, is an American artist whose work has profoundly shaped the landscape of contemporary art. His career, spanning over six decades, is characterized by a unique blend of performance, sculpture, and found object assemblage—a potent combination that confronts issues of race, identity, and social commentary with both startling directness and subtle complexity. Hammons’s artistic journey began not within the hallowed halls of formal education but through a deep engagement with the streets and c…