Sculptor James Lee Hansen is a native Washingtonian, born in Tacoma and raised in Vancouver. His career started while studying the art of sculpture at the Portland Museum Art School,  now known as the Pacific Northwest College of Art. 

After winning several prestigious awards, gaining a favorable reputation for his work and developing his studio in Vancouver, James was invited to teach sculpture at Portland State University in 1964. Students who showed interest, worked in his studio helping with major commissions and learning the process of lost wax casting. In 1977, after a necessary relocation due to Department of Transportation construction, James chose a rural location just north of the East Fork of the Lewis River, for his current home and studio. 

James Lee Hansen developed wide-spread recognition for his work and commissions; his works of art are collected regionally, nationally, and internationally. You can see examples of his sculptures at the Portland Art Museum, Maryhill Museum of Art, Seattle Art Museum, as well as in numerous public placements throughout the Northwest as well as in many public collections.