Edward Norton Hamilton, Junior. is an American sculptor living in Louisville, Kentucky, who specializes in public art
Background
Editor Hamilton was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Louisville by Amy Jane (Camp) and Edward Norton Hamilton, Senior He graduated from Shawnee High School (Kentucky) in 1965, then received a scholarship to Louisville"s Art Center, where he studied sculpture and painting.
Education
He graduated from the Louisville School of Art in 1969 and started his teaching career in 1973 at Iroquois High School.
Career
His most famous work is The Spirit of Freedom, a memorial to black Civil War veterans, that stands in Washington, District of Columbia, in the Shaw neighborhood near Howard University. Hamilton has also created monuments dedicated to Washington, Joe Louis, York (William Clark"s manservant on the Lewis and Clark Expedition), and the slaves who revolted on Louisiana Amistad. Hamilton, originally a painter, had a chance meeting with Barney Bright – the sculptor responsible for the Derby Clock and the River Horse statue – that changed Hamilton"s life.
Bright made Hamilton his apprentice, giving him a place to work and the opportunity to learn sculpting.
On December 16, 2004, Hamilton received a Doctor of Arts honorary Degree from the University of Louisville. Two days later, December 18, 2004, Hamilton received an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from Western Kentucky University.
In 2006, Hamilton self-published an autobiography, The Birth of An Artist: a journey of discovery, in which he talked about his work and the creative process. The book was a popular feature of the Kentucky Book Fair in 2007.
While working on the book, Hamilton, at age 57, discovered that he was adopted.
In June 2009, Hamilton completed work on a statue of Abraham Lincoln which is located near the base of the Big Four Bridge at the Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
Membership
Since learning under Barney Bright, Hamilton has taught sculpture at Jefferson Community College and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.