E Hansen Arts

I am privileged. I am a fourth generation metalworker and a third generation metal artist. This means that I grew up with a family who nurtured creativity, exploration, and hands-on activities — frequently involving power tools. It also means that I had access to the tools and materials to make my ideas into reality. Using the skills and knowledge two generations of family provided, nerdy me made just about anything I wanted to.

I grew up in a small town in south-central Colorado. My fun memories from childhood consist of hiking in the mountains, digging holes, building things, or riding along with my dad to shoe horses. My grandma taught me to draw and paint, my grandpa taught me to solder and use a pipe cutter.

As I grew and became more capable, I started to learn what I could truly do with metal. At 15, I sold my first knife to a friend. Prior to that sale my art was just for me or for my close friends and family. It wasn’t until the end of high school that I realized this is what I wanted for my life and started thinking about what it would take to earn a living making things with metal. I decided to commit, because I realized I would not survive going to college and not hitting hot steel. I attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and earned my bachelors degree in fine art, with an emphasis in metalsmithing. I met some wonderful people among faculty and classmates that gave me consistent critical feedback, pushing me to grow and expand my abilities. Building off of the skills I already had, I quickly improved my craftsmanship and skill for design.

Now, building off of my family background, my education, and my drive to create I’m launching my career as an independent artist. I hope you love what I make as much I do.