About Erik
Born in 1943 and passing away in 2024, Erik Hansen’s life had been bathed in art.
He grew up in the Manhattan suburbs immersed in the city’s art culture. His parents filled their museum-like home with Hopi masks, paintings, sculptures, and antiquarian books. He spent hours as a very young boy thumbing through his grandmother’s Life magazines, with their black-and-white World War II photographs. It’s hardly surprising that he became an artist.
During college Erik took some art courses. However, his true knowledge of photographic skills developed as a commercial photographer in New York, a brief stint in San Diego, then in Boston. He slowly gained experience with on-the-job training. These skills, especially lighting, allowed him greater freedom and expression. His natural theatrical imagination in his artwork bloomed.
Erik said that his dominant focus in his art was the constant employment of imagination. Because of constant creative invention, various themes wandered into new and exciting visions. As a consequence, Erik did not maintain a signature style. But, one constant was an interest in art that brought something from the inside out, rather than capturing observations of the outside world. It was a process that demanded a deep exploration of states of mind and mystery.
Erik felt he found a satisfactory art voice around the year 2003 allowing him to exhibit. It was at that time Erik began creating sets in his studio. Imaginary Timescapes was born. Soon after, a ceramic artist friend collaborated with Erik to mesh his pieces with fantasy landscapes Erik created. Industrial / Organic emerged. Those two series examined time through memories, dreams and mythology.
In a totally new adventure, titled She Learned to Smile Later, a large and serious photo narrative began evolving slowly. An exciting and long period of time compelled Erik into storytelling, a wholly unexplored realm for him. Many of the photographs for the novella were revised and completed just prior to his passing. Book design and printing took place following his death.
After the intense time of first creating the novella, Hansen changed gears. Geometry reintroduced non-storytelling using color imaging, design and a lighter toll on the psyche. His last project was Triangle People, a playful fiction incorporating artists’ themes. Mixed media was incorporated into these new works.
Erik Hansen leaves his wife of 36 years, Katherine, his daughters Kyra Fraser (Andrew) and Ariel Hansen (Eze Spinelli) and four grandchildren. Hansen lived in Maynard, Massachusetts from 1994 until his death. He was a proud member of a large community of artists. His art initiative he called “Maynard as a Canvas” brought a number of outdoor murals to his town and he served on the Maynard Cultural Council. Hansen was also instrumental in getting Maynard designated as a Cultural District.
If you are interested in any of the works, prints or his books, you can reach out through the Contact tab on the website.
