Steven D’Hanson
1953–
Classically trained and inspired by Kadinsky’s surrealism, Steven D’Hanson creates eye-catching works of art the seamlessly blend modern technology and techniques with drawing and painting to create bold, colorful art that’s in demand with collectors around the world.
Personal History
Born in 1953 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a midwestern town of 60,000, many of which are descendants of German and Norwegian immigrants, Steven D’Hanson enjoyed an idyllic upbringing in a stable family with two parents and two sisters. His artistic talent stood out since birth and his parents were always supportive of his art. This was especially true when it came to his father, who was an artist himself, but who never pursued art as a profession. The first recognition the young D’Hanson received was in the 4th grade when a local newspaper showcased his painting of President Lincoln. At this point, he was taking art classes in town and slowly began doing more kinetic sculptures and working with lighting techniques that would transform rooms, including those he was playing in as the percussionist in rock bands, into completely different environments.
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D’Hanson has always had an intense love of both the visual and performing arts and he has experience pairing them together. He would do this with original music of his band Artsonic. They would put on multimedia performances featuring 16 live musicians and dancers, projected computer animation, theatrical lighting, and dramatic staging. The troupe performed at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis as well as other theatre venues in Minneapolis. He may not spend much time behind the drum kit anymore, but D’Hanson still sees his abstract art as a study of harmonics, utilizing the energy of color, shape, and balance. The flowers he creates depict not only inherent beauty but also etheric energy that swirls around them in nature.
After high school, Steven D’Hanson moved onto the Minneapolis College of Art & Design where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. At this time, he was making realistic drawings of anything and everything, but was drawn to faces because of the motion and beauty found in each and every human face. In addition to realism, he was trying to push the boundaries of art and found the surrealism of Dalí and Kandinsky. D’Hanson was intrigued by the colors and shapes those artists used and the experiential nature of their innovative works of art.
The abstract work he was creating in the 90s involved layers of plexiglass, silk screening, and hand painted elements, too. Today, Steven D’Hanson is painting exaggerated, cosmic flowers that he creates using modern technology and prints on canvases before hand-painting over the entire image, as well as abstract images printed on the back of plexiglass. The series of Steven D’Hanson’s flowers are vibrant and energetic, and showcase nature’s beauty up close and personal, much like macro photography. He expertly brings the delicacy of petals, stems, and leaves into our daily lives like no other artist working today.
While in High School D’Hanson won a contest through the Famous Artist School. Norman Rockwell was one of the teachers and he showed D’Hanson’s winning work of art on the Johnny Carson show. Since then, he sold abstract paintings all over North and South America.
D’Hanson likes to create art that challenges the viewer. With his flowers, he roots his work in the familiar but stretches the concept and possibilities to engage with audiences and collectors in brand new, thoroughly exciting ways.
To inquire about collecting the artwork of Steven D’Hanson, attend one of Park West’s online auction weekends or contact a sales associate at either sales@parkwestgallery.com or (866) 995-0904 ext. 4.
