Ed Hamilton was born on February 14, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After graduating in 1969 from the Art Center School in Louisville, Hamilton found there were few opportunities to sculpt, so he taught sculpting and ceramics at Iroquois High School.

In 1973, after attending the University of Louisville and Spalding University in Louisville, well known sculptor Barney Bright invited then 26 year old Hamilton to work with him. As he continued working various jobs to support his family, Hamilton began his career as a sculptor and realized he could earn his living through his art.

In 1978, with assistance from local supporters, Hamilton purchased a building and established his first studio. In 1983, a pivotal breakthrough occurred when he landed a commission from Hampton University to create a statue of famous Black educator, Booker T. Washington. His next major commission was from the City of Detroit to sculpt a monument honoring heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Since then, he has worked continuously as a sculptor.

With his two most recent works, Hamilton has established himself as one of the outstanding Black sculptors in America. In 1995 Hamilton unveiled his massive Amistad Memorial. Commissioned by the Amistad Committee in New Haven, Connecticut. This three-sided bas relief monument tells the story of the life of Joseph Cinque -- his kidnapping, from Africa, his famous trial in the U. S., and his victorious return to his native land. Recently, Hamilton was chosen from a field of four nationally known sculptors to create the "Spirit of Freedom: African-American Civil War Memorial" that was installed in 1998 in Washington, DC, the nation's capitol, at 10th and "U" Streets, NW The 8'x9' bronze monument memorializes approximately 200,000 Black soldiers of the Civil War. Most recently, Hamilton unveiled a life size statue of Whitney M. Young, Jr. on the-Kentucky State University campus in Frankfort, Kentucky, Kentucky’s capitol.

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