Tori Hermes is a sculptor based in Oakland, California, whose bronze works explore the relationship between perception, memory, and self-recognition. Influenced by the architectural forms of her native Chicago and over a decade of metaphysical study, she creates sculptures that blend clarity of form with layered, often hidden symbolism.

After early studies at the Art Institute of Chicago, Tori stepped away from formal education to pursue a personal journey through esoteric traditions and the study of consciousness. This inner work informs the quiet power of her practice today.

In addition to her independent studio work, she collaborates closely with Splady Art Studios, a fabrication space specializing in large-scale metalwork for artists, designers, and public projects. Her sculptures aim not to instruct, but to reflect—to serve as catalysts for the viewer’s own insight and internal navigation.

My work exists in the space between what is seen and what is sensed. I sculpt in bronze to explore the subtle ways perception shapes reality. These pieces are not declarations—they are quiet invitations. They carry a kind of hidden symbolism that speaks not through explanation, but through recognition.

Each form is designed to feel familiar in a way the viewer can’t always name. Mirrors, vessels, and thresholds appear throughout the work, offering portals into the self. Rather than dictate meaning, I allow space for the viewer’s own subconscious to engage.

This approach marks a shift in my practice—from external symbolism to internal resonance. I’ve come to believe that esoteric knowledge doesn’t need translation. It already lives within us. My role is to shape objects that stir that memory.