Local Artist James Ding’s “Rainbow Heart” Sculpture Unveiled in Southampton

In what has quickly become an annual tradition, Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger and the Board of Trustees, along with Southampton Arts Center Executive Director Christina Strassfield, are pleased to install artist local James Ding’s “Rainbow Heart” sculpture for Valentine’s Day 2025 on the grounds of the Southampton Arts Center.

“Rainbow Heart” is the second sculpture in the “Inspired by Love Series“ recently completed by Ding. This new and original large art sculpture is approximately 8 feet high by 8 feet wide and over 2 feet thick. It is made out of foam and fiberglass. The sculpture started out as 4 large foam blocks, glued together and was sculpted using a hot wire. After wrapping the heart in fiberglass, the rainbow colors were hand-painted with no taping. Ding then mixed a clear coating with various colors of metal flake and sprayed it over the heart, giving it a sparkling finish.

“Southampton is a community of artists and those who appreciate art, and has been for centuries,” said Mayor William Manger. “What better way to give the village a Valentine in the form of a colorful, fun sculpture that everyone can enjoy as they walk down Jobs Lane.”

James Ding started his career as a graphic artist. As a young boy, he painted the neighborhood children’s names on their bicycles. (His fee was the leftover paint.) He was always making posters for the high school events but never took any art courses. In college, he took his first art class, a requirement. His first job was teaching Industrial Arts, also known as “shop.”

It was here that he learned welding, automotive, woodworking, silk screening, and other various trade disciplines. During that time, James made all the equipment needed to start a t-shirt printing business. He started The T-shirt Factory in Southampton in the 1980s. Today, Ding is creating a new genre in the graphic arts field: graphic arts on a very large scale and in a 3-dimensional format.

Ding’s “XOXO Hugs & Kisses Sculpture,” which debuted on Valentine’s Day 2024 at Southampton Arts Center, measures 30 feet long. It was then moved to Southampton Elementary School. One dramatic difference between Ding’s sculptures and his contemporaries. Most sculptors create a sketch or model and bring it to a fabricator to complete. Ding creates his art from start to finish. Because of the large scale, he has an assistant, Kallie Gordon, who helps in the creation.

All residents and visitors to Southampton Village are encouraged to enjoy the sculpture and post on their social networks. Tag @VillageofSouthampton on Instagram.