Statement:
My studio practice is process-oriented, with an emphasis on experimentation, material, and play. I often begin with opaque and translucent plant-based papers that have been submerged in water. These resilient yet delicate materials become the surfaces for stitching, drawing, and mixed-media constructions. I use watercolor, ink, and cyanotype to capture, echo, and interact with water’s natural flow and patterns. In each piece, I aim to stay present to its individuality—finding a sense of order within the materials and working with them rather than against them. A magnifying glass for close looking, a brush and ink for gestural response, a pen to punctuate movement—all create a sense of awe and remind me that the messes and messiness of life can become both the lesson and the beauty.
Bio:
Mandy Hansen is a mixed media artist whose studio practice investigates personal and ancestral memory, nature, and rootedness. She has exhibited in juried and invitational shows at multiple locations in Colorado Springs as well as the Arvada Center for the Arts and completed artist-in-residencies at Ghost Ranch (NM) and Talemar Park (IN). Mandy holds a doctorate degree in education, has worked with communities internationally, and has taught several art workshops for children in Guatemala. She currently works out of a home studio at the base of the Rocky Mountains.
Instagram 1: @hansen_art_west
(includes images of series work in progress)
Instagram 2: @mandyhansenartist