The Daily Gamecock

PHOTOS: Public artist Thomas Humphries creates sculptures out of scraps

Local artist Thomas Humphries has been creating sculptures out of repurposed items since college. The medium has allowed Humphries to express passion through welding found materials into art, he said. Humphries' work can be found at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, South Carolina State Fairgrounds, West Columbia Riverwalk and other spaces throughout Columbia.

A tribute to Anna Hyatt Huntington’s work created by Thomas Humphries stands on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries has several pieces on display at the fairgrounds, including a palmetto tree that sits on the corner of George Rogers Boulevard and Rosewood Drive in front of a welcome sign.
A tribute to Anna Hyatt Huntington’s work created by Thomas Humphries stands on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries has several pieces on display at the fairgrounds, including a palmetto tree that sits on the corner of George Rogers Boulevard and Rosewood Drive in front of a welcome sign.
Humphries, who is also a business owner, poses for a photo in his outdoor workshop in West Columbia on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries' shelves contain only some of the materials that he uses to create sculptures.
Humphries, who is also a business owner, poses for a photo in his outdoor workshop in West Columbia on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries' shelves contain only some of the materials that he uses to create sculptures.
The West Columbia Riverwalk amphitheater is home to a set of Humphries' work, which consists of a singer, a pianist, a guitarist and a saxophone player. Humphries constructed the saxophone player first and used sculpting as an outlet to handle the difficult personal struggles he was facing while constructing it.
The West Columbia Riverwalk amphitheater is home to a set of Humphries' work, which consists of a singer, a pianist, a guitarist and a saxophone player. Humphries constructed the saxophone player first and used sculpting as an outlet to handle the difficult personal struggles he was facing while constructing it.
A sculpture of two dancers created by Humphries sits at the entrance of Blue Moon Ballroom in West Columbia on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries created the piece without any buyer in mind, but the structure was a good fit for the ballroom space, he said.
A sculpture of two dancers created by Humphries sits at the entrance of Blue Moon Ballroom in West Columbia on Feb. 27, 2024. Humphries created the piece without any buyer in mind, but the structure was a good fit for the ballroom space, he said.
Humphries explains his process of building structures as he stands next to his largest creation yet, a 12-foot-tall Viking for Spring Valley High School. Humphries always begins his construction at the bottom and works his way up, but for the Viking, he started by creating a foam version of the structure to better visualize the size that he needed to build.
Humphries explains his process of building structures as he stands next to his largest creation yet, a 12-foot-tall Viking for Spring Valley High School. Humphries always begins his construction at the bottom and works his way up, but for the Viking, he started by creating a foam version of the structure to better visualize the size that he needed to build.
Humphries collects scrap metal materials on the corner of Rosewood Drive and George Rogers Boulevard on Feb. 27, 2024. The artist constantly looked for pieces that can be used in his art and found more than 10 items to bring back to his workshop in less than an hour.
Humphries collects scrap metal materials on the corner of Rosewood Drive and George Rogers Boulevard on Feb. 27, 2024. The artist constantly looked for pieces that can be used in his art and found more than 10 items to bring back to his workshop in less than an hour.
An engraving reading "Thomas '06" is visible on the base of a singer sculpture at the West Columbia Riverwalk. Humphries engraved the work with the year it was made to remember when and why the piece was created.
An engraving reading "Thomas '06" is visible on the base of a singer sculpture at the West Columbia Riverwalk. Humphries engraved the work with the year it was made to remember when and why the piece was created.
Shelves at Humphries' workshop in West Columbia are lined with discarded items that he repurposes to help form his art. When creating sculptures, Humphries moves piles of supplies to the floor where he is building and only goes back to the shelves when he runs out of material on the floor.
Shelves at Humphries' workshop in West Columbia are lined with discarded items that he repurposes to help form his art. When creating sculptures, Humphries moves piles of supplies to the floor where he is building and only goes back to the shelves when he runs out of material on the floor.