jd Hansen Sculpture

JD HANSEN SCULPTURE

jd Hansen creates art that explores the juxtaposition of vulnerability and strength using human and animal forms. Her work excavates the intricacies of human psychology and communication through elongated figures, subtle use of body language, and most recently, the addition of welded copper handwriting to her work.

Though Hansen's personal experiences often fuel her concepts, they are left intentionally broad to allow the viewer to see themselves in the artwork.

Explore this lookbook to discover the inspiration behind each piece and find what resonates with you.

VALLEY OF THE SUNRISE

Bronze and Copper

37 × 46 × 24 inches

Edition of 9

This sculpture depicts a horse walking out from underneath his blanket. The blanket symbolizes being wrapped in thoughts which can be both oppressive and comforting. “Sunrise” refers to a new day, a new beginning, free of those thoughts. The words are prose written by the artist herself in German, a language whose precision she finds fascinating. Using a language other than English allows the viewer to see the words as a textured handwritten blanket, rather than focus on individual familiar words. Read the original poem and English translation.

DAS SPIEL

Bronze with Urethane Pearlized Patina 42 × 29 × 16 inches Edition of 9

Translation: The Game

The concept for this sculpture came from Hansen's biggest passion and pastime other than her art—beach volleyball. When you're on the service line, holding the ball in your hand, you feel incredibly powerful. You control the game at that moment. But you also have a sense of vulnerability. Once the ball is in play, you must deal with whatever comes back your way. This is a metaphor for life: we take bold, strong actions, then we deal with the vicissitudes that come back our way, hopefully handling them with grace.

INHERITANCE

Bronze and Resin 41 × 10 × 8 inches

Edition of 25

Our families are intricately a part of who we are. This sculpture is about the “broken” parts of a person that are inherited and internalized. Our job is to embrace them as part of ourselves and find a way to make them beautiful. The sculpture is bronze, a strong material, while the more vulnerable part is resin, which allows the light to shine through and create luminosity out of what we inherit.

Bronze 28 × 32 × 11 inches

Edition of 9

As its name suggests, this piece conveys a solitary journey: faceted, strong, and beautiful.

SOULMATES

Bronze with Urethane Pearlized Patina

22 × 13.5 × 9.25 inches

Edition of 9

This piece shows two people who are deeply connected. The orientation of the figures—facing away from one another but connected by their hands—indicates a freedom and independence with a constant, always there connection. The two figures are facing different directions, seeing their own lives with their own unique perspectives, but their touching hands signify an unbreakable union.

ORCHARD

Bronze 30 × 10 × 8 inches Edition of 9

When she created this sculpture, the artist had a ranch in Southern California with over 150 different fruit and nut trees. Hansen loved the solitude of the orchard and took care of it herself along with her loved ones, getting to know each tree. Orchard was made from collected bits and pieces from the land that was brought into the artist’s studio. She used these elements to create the figure, conveying the connection between humans and nature.

PINOT

Bronze 26 × 32 × 12 inches

Edition of 9

One day at the foundry, the head from Hansen's Valley of the Sunrise horse sculpture was sitting on a table across from the artist, and she found it so striking that she had to create an edition. The first few Pinots were polished bronze with a layered translucent red varnish, giving the sculpture its name. The more she lived with the red editions, the more Hansen thought Pinot had more to say through a different presentation (the antique patina that you see here)—just like a fine wine that ages into something more magical than where it started.

SPIEGEL IM SPIEGEL

Bronze 35 × 21 × 11 inches

Edition of 9

Translation: Mirror in Mirror

The bodies in this piece echo one another in their stance to indicate a close relationship, because all relationships are a reflection of ourselves. We both mirror the other person, and are shown our true selves by them.

FIRE Bronze 36 × 18 × 18 inches Edition of 9

A powerful stance, ready for anything. The artist comes from a family of strong women. She has learned how to be self-sufficient, strong, but also gentle and kind. This sculpture conveys all of those qualities, and acts as a snapshot of a feeling of invincibility.

EIN MOMENT

Bronze 20.5 × 9.25 × 6.75 inches

Edition of 9

Translation: One Moment

This piece is about the energy of love: “one moment” that contains everything. No past, no future, just this endless present moment that goes on forever.

Renaissance Fine Arts | Baltimore, MD | 410.484.8900

Merritt Gallery | Chevy Chase, MD | 301.564.4447

Merritt Gallery | Haverford, PA | 610.645.9945