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Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Lonnie Holley (b.1950) began making art in 1979 after a house fire tragically killed two of his nieces. He has since devoted his life to the practice of improvisational creativity. His art and music – born out of struggle, hardship, furious curiosity, and biological necessity – has manifested itself in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, performance, and sound. In addition, Holley believes that divine intervention inspires his work, thus, a deep faith underlies many of his creative products. He is best known for his assemblages and immersive environments made of found materials. Initially, Holley constructed his sculptures primarily out of industrial-grade sandstone, earning him the nickname “The Sand Man.” Later, he expanded his materials to include discarded wire, scrap metal, and wood. By the mid-1980s, Holley branched into painting influenced by West African, Egyptian, and Pre-Columbian era artwork.