Vandorn Hinnant, born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1953, is a distinguished artist whose career spans several decades, encompassing a wide range of mediums and thematic explorations. His work is a testament to his profound understanding of art, science, and spirituality, merging these fields into compelling visual narratives. Hinnant’s artistic journey began in Greensboro, where he was born and raised. He pursued his passion for art by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Design from North Carolina A & T State University. Further honing his skills, he studied sculpture at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. This formal education laid the foundation for his multifaceted approach to art, blending technical skill with conceptual depth.
In 1993-1994, he received the prestigious North Carolina Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award. Hinnant has also participated in various artist residencies, including The Hambidge Center for the Arts and Sciences, Project Row Houses, Penland School of Crafts, and the Brandywine Workshop. These residencies allowed him to immerse himself in different artistic communities, broadening his perspective and refining his craft.
AWAKEN LOVE (2015)
“Awaken Love” is one of Vandorn Hinnant’s significant pieces, created from a black-and-white study that the artist had been developing for over fifteen years. It stands as the second composition in his Organic Abstractions series. This work centers around the Sankofa symbol, a heart-shaped motif with deep roots in Ghanaian culture. Sankofa, as a concept, translates to the idea of “looking back to move forward,” a theme that permeates Hinnant’s artistic explorations.
The composition incorporates the Sankofa symbol within a larger pattern, with symbols and elements carefully placed to create layers of meaning. A blue rectangle within the heart shape represents a portal—one that signifies a shift in consciousness. This blue doorway is a recurring element in Hinnant’s work, tying it to his larger series of Organic Abstractions.
Inside the Sankofa heart, a spiral emerges, representing both the celestial sun and the cyclical journey of the soul between life and the afterlife. For Hinnant, this spiral evokes ancient cultural symbolism, a path linking the earthly and the spiritual. The surrounding white lines radiating from the spiral suggest light emanating from a central source, adding to the spiritual connotations of the work.
The textual element in “Awaken Love” reflects Hinnant’s belief in the transformative power of love. The artist incorporates the words: “It is only when LOVE sleeps that war can walk among us. And tell me who among us shall awaken LOVE?” This quote adds a layer of social commentary, urging viewers to reflect on love as a vital force for peace.
A Monument to Leadership (2017)
In 2014, Jim Gallucci’s studio fabricated the first of Vandorn’s stainless steel monuments TOGETHER WE RISE; twin totemic sculptures commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the townships Winston and Salem’s official merger. These twin columns are where Hinnant first employed the Golden Ratio in a public art commission and developed his unique stainless steel surface treatment.
In 2017, during the fabrication of A Monument to Leadership, Jim Gallucci suggested to Vandorn that his newly designed monument for Fayetteville State University reminded him of works by one of his favorite sculptors; Tony Smith. Tony Smith had worked with geometric shapes that Vandorn began to engage with beginning in 2011. He had not made a connection with Smith’s work since his approach to the geometry had been informed only by his deep engagement with ancient knowledge of the central role the Golden Ratio has played in great works of art across the past few centuries.
This 19 foot tall sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary paying tribute to the 14 leaders of the institution, and continues Hinnant’s conversation in earlier works exploring leadership and human progress.
Drawing on the artistic lineage of Smith’s sculptural investigations, Hinnant’s piece expands on these ideas, offering viewers a reflection on leadership, time, and the structures that shape both education and society. Situated prominently on campus, this monumental work becomes a symbol of continuity and progress, representing the university’s ongoing influence on the local and global community.
ARK OF CONSCIOUSNESS
“Ark of Consciousness” (also referred to as “Ark”) is a geometric exploration that embodies Vandorn Hinnant’s interest in the interconnectedness of humanity and higher consciousness. This piece is rich in symbolism, with a subliminal message embedded within its circular design: “We are dreaming, waiting to remember we are one.” This repeated phrase, barely perceptible at first glance, encapsulates the central theme of the work—unity and awakening.
The composition features a white circle enclosed within a red square, located in the lower third of the piece. This simple geometric arrangement carries profound meaning, particularly through the figure-eight symbols in the upper portion of the work. These figures represent the infinity loop, a metaphor for eternity and the eternal flow of life. In the center, a vesica pattern, reminiscent of Egyptian hieroglyphs, symbolizes the portal through which consciousness travels.
“Ark of Consciousness” is part of Hinnant’s larger Geometric Abstractions series, in which he consistently employs Euclidean geometry. The precise lines, interlocking triangles, and use of the Golden Ratio are all deliberate choices that draw on ancient knowledge, serving as visual keys to deeper truths. The artist sees these geometric diagrams as encoded messages that have the potential to unlock new levels of awareness in the viewer.
The work’s title suggests that humanity is metaphorically on an ark—a vessel of consciousness sailing through time and space. Hinnant invites viewers to engage with his art not just as passive observers but as active participants, seeking meaning and elevation through their interaction with the work.
Through pieces like “Awaken Love,” “A Monument to Leadership,” and “Ark of Consciousness,” Vandorn Hinnant continues to explore the intersection of art, geometry, and spirituality. His works serve as visual meditations, asking viewers to reflect on their place in the world and their connection to the greater whole. In merging ancient symbolism with modern techniques, Hinnant’s art encourages contemplation, transformation, and a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries.
