The Clark County Council proclaimed Oct. 15, 2024, as James Lee Hansen Day in honor of the celebrated sculptor and Battle Ground resident. Hansen, a lifelong Clark County resident, was subsequently awarded the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Clark County Arts Commission that day.
Born in Tacoma in 1925, Hansen graduated from Vancouver High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later attended the Portland Art Museum School, where he became a sculptor, working primarily in bronze. Over his long career, Hansen created more than 800 sculptures, with pieces displayed in public spaces including Clark College and the University of Oregon.
Hansen was also a professor at Portland State University for over 20 years. His sculptures explore the connections between mysticism, mythology and human psychology, according to a release. Clark County Arts Commission Chair Deborah Nagano praised Hansen for his vision and legacy, stating, “Thank you, Mr. Hansen, for everything you have given the world and, most particularly, Clark County.”
