Biography

Born in a cabin without electricity in the remote mountains of northern California, Levi Hammett developed a deep interest in geographic space together with the concept and process of location. Raised in a blue collar family he worked as a sign painter and carpenter before pursuing a formal education in design focusing on coding and automation. This background developed into a creative practice that uses computational processes to inform the creation of handmade design objects rooted in traditions of craft. The resulting products use ambiguity and open interpretation to critically engage users with unconventional views of spatial-cultural phenomena.
His design work includes a series of hand-made Islamic carpets that explore the urban culture of the Arabian Peninsula, a kinetic installation using 40 printers suspended from the ceiling outputting procedurally generated visual content, and an interactive audio/visual installation for the World War II Normandy Visitors Center in France.¹

His work has been acquired by a number of individuals and institutions, most notably by the private collection of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. His work has been published in print and online collections, distributed as digital applications, and exhibited in Asia, Europe, the Middle-East, South America, and the United States.
In 2019 Levi co-founded xLab,² a non-hierarchical research & development studio working to produce electronic art, curricula, and hardware+software based tools to extend creative practice. Levi Hammett received his MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2006.³ Currently, he is an Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar where he teaches a range of classes which explore computational art, the design of graphic products, and culturally constructive design.

1. Hammett, Levi., & John Caserta. Voices of Soldiers (Interactive Digital Interface). WWII Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. 2007.

2. Hammett, Levi., et. al. xLab (studio for) {new = making + computation}. Funded by the Institute for Creative Research, VCUarts Qatar, Doha, Qatar. 2019. link

3. Hammett, Levi. Deliberate removal : creating space for participation. 2006. 224 pages : illus. (chiefly color) ; 22 cm. GRAPH 2006 .H36

Levi Hammett

Selected Works

Construction City

Levi
Hammett

Selected
Works