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Clint Hamilton
American, (1928–2001)
Clint Hamilton grew up in Abilene, Texas and studied art at McMurry University while still in high school. Upon graduation from Abilene High School in 1947, he moved to Dallas where he designed and created window displays for Sanger Brothers department store and studied figure drawing at Southern Methodist University. After practicing commercially in Dallas, Hamilton moved to New York in 1951 to pursue his aspirations as an artist. There, he was discovered by Gene Moore, Tiffany & Co.’s famous window designer, which led to a successful career as a commercial artist and window dresser. Hamilton’s commercial work featured a striking blend of exceptional technical abilities with his distinctive creative choice to include pieces of fine art which were being created by many emerging artists who struggled to access gallery and exhibition space in the electrically charged art scene of New York in the 1950’s and 60’s. Clint’s own art appeared in his display windows and he arranged for his friend and fellow struggling artist, Andy Warhol to have his first exhibit in one of Hamilton’s window designs for Bonwit Teller. It is believed that the exposure from the window displays were what helped launch Warhol’s career. Warhol, Hamilton and Nathan Gluck later exhibited their work as a group show at the avant-garde Loft Gallery in New York City. In his time spent in New York City, Clint’s professional and social circles included many notable artists and creative minds of the 20th Century, including Andy Warhol, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauchenberg and Richard Avedon. In 1967, after several seasons of poor health, Clint returned to Abilene eventually relocating permanently in the early 1970’s. This event heralded a new chapter in his life and within the life of the art scene in his hometown. His love for art and design continued and he dressed windows for Neiman Marcus in Dallas and created unique window displays for Grissom’s department store in downtown Abilene. He was instrumental in the creation and sustainability of art venues in Abilene and in creating the Artists League of Texas. The Artists League of Texas (ALOT) was a group of local artists who created their own gallery space in downtown Abilene. He designed window displays for Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Abilene’s Grissom’s Department Store, which later became The Center for Contemporary Arts (The CCA), where he served as curator for many years. His metropolitan sophistication coupled with his famously warm, humorous and gregarious nature endeared him to many within our community. He developed hugely impactful relationships with local artists in various professional stages, spanning multiple generations and mentored many notable artists still practicing today. For the remainder of his life he continued to maintain an impressively prolific artistic practice.
American, (1928–2001)
Clint Hamilton grew up in Abilene, Texas and studied art at McMurry University while still in high school. Upon graduation from Abilene High School in 1947, he moved to Dallas where he designed and created window displays for Sanger Brothers department store and studied figure drawing at Southern Methodist University. After practicing commercially in Dallas, Hamilton moved to New York in 1951 to pursue his aspirations as an artist. There, he was discovered by Gene Moore, Tiffany & Co.’s famous window designer, which led to a successful career as a commercial artist and window dresser. Hamilton’s commercial work featured a striking blend of exceptional technical abilities with his distinctive creative choice to include pieces of fine art which were being created by many emerging artists who struggled to access gallery and exhibition space in the electrically charged art scene of New York in the 1950’s and 60’s. Clint’s own art appeared in his display windows and he arranged for his friend and fellow struggling artist, Andy Warhol to have his first exhibit in one of Hamilton’s window designs for Bonwit Teller. It is believed that the exposure from the window displays were what helped launch Warhol’s career. Warhol, Hamilton and Nathan Gluck later exhibited their work as a group show at the avant-garde Loft Gallery in New York City. In his time spent in New York City, Clint’s professional and social circles included many notable artists and creative minds of the 20th Century, including Andy Warhol, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauchenberg and Richard Avedon. In 1967, after several seasons of poor health, Clint returned to Abilene eventually relocating permanently in the early 1970’s. This event heralded a new chapter in his life and within the life of the art scene in his hometown. His love for art and design continued and he dressed windows for Neiman Marcus in Dallas and created unique window displays for Grissom’s department store in downtown Abilene. He was instrumental in the creation and sustainability of art venues in Abilene and in creating the Artists League of Texas. The Artists League of Texas (ALOT) was a group of local artists who created their own gallery space in downtown Abilene. He designed window displays for Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Abilene’s Grissom’s Department Store, which later became The Center for Contemporary Arts (The CCA), where he served as curator for many years. His metropolitan sophistication coupled with his famously warm, humorous and gregarious nature endeared him to many within our community. He developed hugely impactful relationships with local artists in various professional stages, spanning multiple generations and mentored many notable artists still practicing today. For the remainder of his life he continued to maintain an impressively prolific artistic practice.
Artist Objects
