Renowned sculptor and poet James Lee Hansen expressed gratitude and surprise after receiving Clark County’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
On Oct. 15, the Clark County Arts Commission named Hansen as the award’s 2024 recipient, followed by the Clark County Council’s proclamation of the day as “James Lee Hansen Day.”
“It was a big surprise,” Hansen said.
His wife, Jane added, “We’re just both pleased and honored that the commission saw fit to give that award.”
Over his career, Hansen has crafted more than 700 sculptures, of which many are displayed in public spaces across the Pacific Northwest. In addition to his sculpting, he is an avid poet.
Born in Tacoma, Hansen served in the Navy during World War II, stationed on the USS Preston Destroyer in the Pacific Ocean. After the war, he enrolled at the Portland Art Museum School, now the Pacific Northwest College of Art, in 1946, where he studied under Frederick Littman, a mentor who introduced him to the demanding process of sculpting in bronze.
In 1949, Hansen met his first wife and built his first studio near Burnt Bridge Creek in Vancouver, using recycled materials from the 1948 Vanport, Oregon, flood. Due to the construction of Highway 500, Hansen created a new studio near the East Fork Lewis River in 1977, where he has remained since.
Hansen’s creative process, particularly in bronze sculpting, is organic and unplanned, he said. Even for commissioned pieces, he rarely uses blueprints or detailed plans.
“I didn’t really think about that; it just happens,” he explained, likening his art to breathing — an instinctive act.
Hansen taught at Portland State University for 26 years, where he encouraged his students to pursue their own creative paths. He emphasizes that, while mastering skills and tools is essential, artists should avoid imitation, believing that dedication to one’s own style ultimately proves more rewarding than trying to emulate others.
“We’re living in a time when everybody wants a recipe, how to do this or that,” Hansen said. “There always seems to be somebody ready to write it down and hand it out, but I don’t know how much attention you can pay to that.”
His commissioned works, including several in Clark County, capture a variety of styles and themes. One notable piece, “The Guardian,” a 6-foot bronze sculpture created in 1965, is prominently displayed on the Clark College campus as part of his figurative “Guardian” series. Another favorite, “Winter Rider,” from his equestrian series, was created in 1989. Jane Hansen notes that her husband’s rural upbringing in Clark County likely inspired his equestrian series.
“There’s a sense of freedom and a sense of pride [and] stature with the equestrian [series]. They’re not like any other equestrian that you might see because it’s an abstraction of the equestrian,” Jane Hansen said.
Hansen’s sculpting journey came to an end in 2020 due to health concerns, though his influence continues to grow. In 2022, the Washington state House of Representatives recognized his artistic achievements with a formal resolution. Although Hansen no longer sculpts, he occasionally explores his creativity through poetry.
Readers can view Hansen’s sculptures and poetry at jamesleehansen.com. Hansen’s biography is also written on the website.
