Fiberglass Sculpture
Richmond, VA
Photo: Pat Jarrett/Virginia Humanities
Brently Hilliard is a musician and sculptor working in Richmond. Hilliard mostly makes small-scale, short-run cast resin toys and action figures inspired by B-grade horror movies and so-called “gross out” cartoons like The Ren & Stimpy Show. MadBalls, sculpted foam ball toys with names like Bash Brain (a zombie with exposed brains) and Slobulus (a one-eyed slobbering creature), are another source of inspiration for Hilliard. In 2019-2020, he received support from the Virginia Folklife Program to apprentice with Mark Cline of Natural Bridge, Virginia. While Cline is known for large-scale roadside attractions like Dinosaur Kingdom II and Foamhenge, he began sculpting by casting small resin figures. Though their time was cut short because of the pandemic, Hilliard said they stay in touch and Cline has helped Hilliard when he needs advice on process. Some notable Hilliard creations make nods to the musician Captain Beefheart, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and a Benji Hughes lyric. He said making these figures is therapeutic to some extent, “if I couldn’t make things I’d be in rough shape.” Hililard will be sharing work in the Virginia Folklife Area Saturday and Sunday.