Look Me in the Eye

Born and educated in Minnesota, Duane Hansen began his career as an artist in the early 1960s. His sculpting skills have taken art to an entirely new level with a technique he practiced called hyperrealism. Hyperrealism is a form of sculpture or art in any medium that mirrors an object (usually a person) just as it appears in the real world. This type of scary-accuracy is called “trompe l’ oeil”, French for “fools the eye.”


(Flea Market Vendor, 1990)

Hansen’s first pieces were focused around violent themes. With titles like Vietnam Scene, Abortion, and Race Riot (all completed in the 60s), it’s easy to see which time period he worked in and what affected him the most. He began sculpting his materials out of fiberglass, then painting over the works with realistic skin tones and clothing them with second-hand department store finds. Hansen’s sculptures are cast from real people.

His work took a dramatic turn in the late 70s and 80s. By then the tumultuous decade of hippies and war had come to a close and Hansen’s work became more realistic and definitely more innocent. It seems as though his entire focus in art was on everyday life—particularly tourist scenes. His kitschyness really hits home with the imperfect (sometimes obese) bodies he sculpts in the unmistakable era of loud colors and big hair. Hansen died in 1996 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. His art can still be seen in the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

(Traveller, 1988)




(Accident, 1960s) One of Hansen's earlier works.