From sneaking into art classes to setting up a studio in an abandoned pier, Guy Dill’s journey toward becoming a celebrated contemporary American sculptor is anything but conventional.
Dill’s first love was the sea. Intending to travel the world by boat, the Malibu, California native began a career working for the U.S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam war. In his time off, he visited his brother, Laddie John Dill, who was attending the renowned Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and unofficially joined his life drawing classes after an instructor pressed him to bring a sketchpad. Dill enjoyed the classes and eventually accumulated enough work to submit to Chouinard for application.
After graduating from Chouinard with a bachelor's degree in painting in 1967, Dill put down the brush but continued to draw. Attracted to the Venice Beach lifestyle, Dill set up a studio with some fellow artists in an abandoned space on the Pacific Ocean Park (POP) pier. Located a few miles south of the now-famous Santa Monica pier, the POP pier slowly deteriorated under Dill’s feet while he began his sculpting career.
During the late 1960s, Irving Blum’s influential Ferus Gallery was the epicenter of L.A.’s art scene. Blum discovered Dill’s sculptures and put him in a group show with other exciting new talent from the area. Artists such as Ed Ruscha and Roy Lichtenstein had begun to make their names at the gallery, and the exposure proved important for Dill. Today he works in cardboard, glass, bronze, wood and more, and his large-scale abstract sculptures are known all over the world.
In 1972, Dill was awarded the Theodoron Award from the Guggenheim Museum in New York and First Prize at the Chicago Institute of Art’s “American Show” in 1974. Additional accolades include the California Heritage Museum Artist’s Award, the Stars of Design Lifetime Achievement for Art Award from the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and more.
Dill’s work is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Guggenheim and the Stedelijk Museum.
On 1stDibs, find authentic Guy Dill sculptures, prints and more.
Guy Dill Large Welded Mid Century Post Modern Abstract Steel Table Sculpture
By Guy Dill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and impressive steel sculpture by world renowned artist Guy Dill. It consists of black welded steel circa 1990's. Welded signature.
Cut Steel
Guy Dill Wood Sculpture with Marble Base Signed and Dated
By Guy Dill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very well known Abstract artist Guy Dill. He works in monumental bronze and marble abstractions.
Wood
$32,000
File Angel
By Guy Dill
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Guy Dill is an American sculptor noted for his monumental bronze and marble abstractions. He graduated with honors in 1970 from the Chouinard Institute of Art, Los Angeles, Californi...
Bronze
Price Upon Request
Pooja, sculpture by Guy Dill, abstract, contemporary, bronze sculpture, indoor
By Guy Dill
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Pooja, sculpture by Guy Dill, abstract, contemporary, bronze sculpture, indoor, outdoor Contact us with expected delivery times. Abstract sculptor GUY DILL is well-known and in suc...
Bronze
American Post-War Abstract Steel Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design abstract steel sculpture on a black rectangular base of vertically arranged circles and squares.
Steel
$1,250
H 13 in W 6 in D 3 in
2012 Argentine Biomorphic Wood Sculpture with Marble Base by Fabriciano Gómez
By Fabriciano Gomez
Located in North Miami, FL
2012 argentine biomorphic wood abstract sculpture with black marble base by artist Fabriciano Gómez By: Fabriciano Gómez, Jean Arp (in the style of), Henry Moore (in the style of) M...
Stone, Marble, Metal
$1,400Sale Price|24% Off
H 27 in W 20 in D 8 in
Abstract Chrome Sculpture on Marble base C. Jere signed
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage table top sculpture of an abstract form on a marble pedestal. Crafted by C.Jere and dated to 1978. Very nice form. The marble base is solid and quite heavy.
Marble, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Brass Sculpture on Marble Base After Rodin's "The Thinker" - SIGNED
Located in North Miami, FL
Signed V. Martin, this wonderful version of Rodin's renowned sculpture, The Thinker, is made of patinated brass and sits atop a black marble base. Pedestal shown is sold separately ...
Marble, Brass
$5,500
H 63.25 in W 19 in D 16.75 in
Salvatore Messina, Italian Mid-Century Modern, Abstract Sculpture, Steel, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
Salvatore Messina, Italian Mid-Century Modern, 'Vertical Refraction' Sculpture, Steel, Italy, 1970s Indoor or outdoor modernist geometric sculpture designed by Salvatore Messina and...
Steel
Mid Century Modern Abstract Driftwood Suspended Table Sculpture
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage Abstract Driftwood Suspended Tabletop Sculpture circa 1970's. This organic freeform piece can be displayed from any angle and adds dimension to any Danish modern or beach coa...
Driftwood
$2,520Sale Price|30% Off
H 13.5 in W 31 in D 7.5 in
Organic Wood Sculpture by Huez Dominguez, Abstract Design, 1980
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful organic wood sculpture mounted on a wooden base. Sculpture is signed Huez Dominguez.
Metal
Abstract Large Steel Sculpture
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful large abstract steel sculpture by a talented pair local Palm Springs, the Sutton Brothers. It is painted and finished on one side in polished steel. Great presence. The p...
Steel
$2,000
H 9.25 in W 5.225 in D 4 in
Joseph Wesner Industrial Modern Welded Steel Abstract Tabletop Sculpture
Located in Troy, MI
Abstract modernist sculpture by Detroit artist Joseph Wesner circa 1990s Welded steel composition with contrasting patinas embody Wesner's signature style of refined industrial 5....
Steel
Curtis Jeré Sculpture with Marble Base, Signed
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Dallas, TX
Curtis Jeré sculpture with marble base. In excellent condition. Dimensions: 22" W x 35" T.
Marble, Brass
$24,498
H 13.39 in W 17.33 in D 10.63 in
Alchemy by Romain Langlois - Rock-like bronze sculpture, golden, abstract
By Romain Langlois
Located in Paris, FR
Alchemy is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Romain Langlois, dimensions are 34 × 44 × 27 cm (13.4 × 17.3 × 10.6 in). The sculpture is signed and numbered, it is part of a l...
Bronze
Vasa Mihich Acrylic Cube Sculptures Mid Century Post Modern
By Vasa Velizar Mihich
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a set of six Vasa Mihich acrylic cube sculptures. Each sculpture is crafted from multicolored laminated acrylic, allowing colors to mix and change based on li...
Lucite
Sold
H 76 in W 47 in D 58 in
Navy, large abstract metal sculpture, white powder coated aluminum, vertical
By Guy Dill
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Navy, large abstract metal sculpture, white powder-coated aluminum, vertical Guy Dill is an American sculptor noted for his monumental bronze and marble abstractions.[1] His work is...
Metal
Sold
H 71 in W 105 in D 31.5 in
Large Frieze by Guy Dill, contemporary abstract large scale outdoor sculpture
By Guy Dill
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Large Frieze by Guy Dill, contemporary abstract large scale outdoor sculpture
Steel
Sold
H 52 in W 75 in D 33 in
Large Dorado by Guy Dill, abstract sculpture, outdoor, steel, powder coat
By Guy Dill
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Large Dorado by Guy Dill, abstract sculpture, outdoor, steel, powder coat
Steel
Guy Dill Large Floor Standing Sculpture, 1980's
By Guy Dill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1946- A custom piece from an estate in Beverly Hills. It was displayed by the pool. Both pieces are not attached. It had a solid concrete rectangle piece that sat between both piece...
Sculpture by Guy Dill
By Guy Dill
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing architectural sculpture by Guy Dill, Untitled (from Spanish Mirror Series), circa 1987. Painted steel, signed and dated to white-painted element. Price reduced from $16,800.