“There can be so much spirit, presence and potential embodied in a three dimensional form that shares our personal space. My aim is to invoke a response, or evoke a memory, awaken something visceral that we can relate to, even if we don’t know what it is or why it moves us."

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Jason Hale Tillman is a Sculptor working primarily with mixed metal alloys, such as stainless and mild steel, brass, bronze and copper. His work often evokes the geometries and forces of the natural world, such as tectonics, decay and erosion, abstracted and frozen in time. With a background in Architectural and Industrial design, many of Jason’s works have an architectonic underpinning, and explore the intersection between human and earth.

Jason works from his seaside studio in Marlborough, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, and can ship internationally.

Projects: Chronology


Explore Further


Hyperion

Hyperion detail 1

This stainless steel wall relief has acid-etched layers of mild steel and brass, each with a unique hand-printed texture to enhance the depth and detail. Dark patina gives the layers a rustic and weathered feel. Internal LED lighting is interwoven between the layers, offering a completely different characteristic as the light levels change; dark depths become wells of light, and shining surfaces turn opaque silhouettes.

Hyperion detail 2

Into The Wind


Close-up of a metallic sculpture resembling a feather with detailed ridges, mounted on a white wall, casting a shadow.

Hammer-formed stainless steel forms, acting as “memento mori” of the now-extinct New Zealand Huia bird, considered sacred to the Maori peoples. The tail feathers were used in death rituals and to honour the “mana”, or life-force of the dead. The 3 forms can be placed in any arrangement on the wall, and have a translucent enamel finish to emulate the colours of the Huia.

Decorative wall art of a large, metallic feather mounted on a plain wall.

Aqualine


Modern wall decoration with twisted metallic ribbons hanging above a water feature with small waterfalls.

This was a challenging project, working out the details and water flow patterns to fit an existing outlet. The idea was to break up the loud, heavy flow of the waterfall, and accentuate the aesthetics in an important entertaining area of the client’s indoor/outdoor space.

Modern metal wall art sculpture with intertwined, twisting silver strips against a dark background.

Codex


Close-up of a metallic abstract sculpture with stacked, irregularly-shaped metal pieces in bronze and copper tones.

Codex was the first in a series of works utilising the unified geometric fracture, where elements wrap and fold around the edges, and layers seem to float in the void. This sense of rupture, fracture, release, and exposure of underlying layers speaks to a fascination with the geologic forces and the impact of seismic events.

Two panoramic metal abstract artworks with layered textured sections, displayed on contrasting dark and light walls in an art gallery, with a man inspecting the piece on the dark wall.

Genesis


Metal sculpture of a globe with swirling bands, situated outdoors among trees and large rocks.

The development of the design for Genesis grew into more than just the sculpture itself, into a rock garden setting for the piece. We spent time at a local quarry selecting the right stones for each element, and carefully placed them with the tractor. It created an impactful plinth, and area for reflection of the work.

A man with a beard and gray T-shirt stands with arms crossed, leaning against boulder and next to a spherical metal sculpture, in a grass field of an orchard.
Outdoor sculpture featuring a mosaic metal sphere balanced on large rocks in a grassy area with orchard trees in the background

Te Awa (The River)


Close-up of rust and stainless steel metal abstract sculpture with curved, layered pieces.

Before sandblasting and building up the rusted finish on the raw steel, I took photos of the panels in their buffed, reflective state, alluding to stainless steel as another finish option. I also mocked up the 3 panels as large scale freestanding elements, rather than wall mounted, as a proposal for a monumental outdoor work.

Side-by-side images of a rust-colored abstract wooden art installation. The left image shows it outdoors with a person and a child observing it, and the right image shows it indoors with two people standing in front of it.
Set of three vertical metal sculptures outdoors, each with wavy, layered designs, set against a backdrop of trees and grass.

Custom Commissions


Rather than search endlessly for just the right artwork for your space, commission a unique piece specific to your needs and vision.

Jason’s background in architecture and design offers a unique understanding of space and interiors, and your ideas can be translated into sculptural form. With the ability to work together through preliminary sketches and maquettes, Jason can develop a design to suit the scale, budget, timeline and aesthetic for your space.

Jason has a long history of successful custom projects for private collectors. Contact Jason for references and testimonials, or to enquire further about the process.

Here are some comments from satisfied clients:

“Thank you Jason... Your fantastic help thru the design process and the final piece of art was even better than expected. Your quality of materials and production is amazing. Being able to work with you through the process with our input was a great experience for us.  You were very receptive to our ideas, listened and made suggestions and came up with a scale drawing which we loved - you were great to work with! We love that we have a very special piece of art, having met you and enjoyed your company and collaborated with you throughout the process.”   -Richard Vincent, Auckland NZ

“During my ten year tenure in Blenheim I commissioned Jason to craft four pieces of art in metal.  Two were for outdoors and two for the interior of our home. Jason’s extraordinary affinity and skill in working with metal and his patination techniques meant just about anything was possible in design.  The process of initially unfolding my conceptual ideas lead to more detailed and thought provoking discussions as Jason’s drawings started to bring our combined design ideas to light. The process could be quite exciting. Whilst the end result was a Tillman work, whatever expectations I had in my own mind at the beginning seemed fully realised. Could I be so bold as to say I had some ownership of the end design? I think Jason might afford me that privilege, simply because of the collaborative approach he encourages”. -Gregory Carter, Christchurch, NZ

“In 2021 we chanced on a visit to Jason’s workshop whilst holidaying in Marlborough. We were planning a renovation and, because of that visit, commissioned Jason to design a wall sculpture. Jason provided detailed drawings of his ideas and once we accepted a concept he completed the work in a timely fashion. It duly arrived with detailed installation advice so our builder could easily and correctly place “Vespertine”. We love the work and because of the personal process we went through have a deep connection to it. Jason was easy and professional to work with. I can highly recommend him to anyone wishing to commission a work from him.” -Maryanne Marlow, Arrowtown, NZ

Gallery Representation


Currently Jason’s work can be found at the Church House Gallery, 208 High Street in Motueka, New Zealand. For a link to the gallery, CLICK HERE

Previous Gallery representation has included the Parker Gallery in Nelson and The Icon Gallery in Upper Moutere, NZ. His work has also been shown at the Refinery Gallery in Nelson and the Marlborough Art Gallery in Blenheim, as well as various art shows around New Zealand.

Get In Touch

From conceptualizing to creation, together we can fulfill your sculptural vision. We will collaborate to develop and deliver a bespoke design and quality craftsmanship we’ll all be proud of for a lifetime.

About Jason

A man with dark hair, a gray beard, wearing a gray striped shirt, sitting at a table, sketching architectural plans or drawings with a black pen, with an artwork on the wall behind him.

Bio

Born and raised by artist parents in Upstate New York in the USA, Jason Hale Tillman moved to Brooklyn in New York City to study at the Pratt Institute School of Architecture in 1988, upon receiving a merit-based scholarship to attend the 5 year program. After completing an additional semester of studies abroad at Pratt’s studios in Rome, Italy, he graduated with honors in 1994, earning a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree and a minor in Industrial Design.

After working for both architects and designers in New York City and Boulder Colorado for many years, primarily designing and building furniture, lighting, and retail store fixtures, Jason moved permanently to New Zealand in 2007. He now works full time as an artist and designer, with a particular focus on abstract metal sculpture, usually incorporating an interplay of contrasting metals and finishes. Since staging a large solo exhibition at the Refinery Gallery in Nelson NZ in 2011, most of Jason’s work has been sold thru the Icon Gallery and the Parker Gallery near Nelson, annual group shows such as the NZ Art Show in Wellington, and thru custom commissions. He currently shows work at the Church House Gallery in Motueka, NZ.

Jason works from his beachside workshop and studio in the Marlborough region of New Zealand.

Contact

Email: jason@tillmanstudios.com

Facebook: Tillman Studios

Phone: (+64) 021 804 191