Meet Desmond Hansen: Our Guest For December’s West Seattle Art Walk
Canna West Culture Shop, a designated stop on the map (5435 California Ave SW) during each West Seattle Art Walk Tour, last Thursday hosted Seattle mural artist and painter, Desmond Hansen. Hansen is best known for the 60+ murals he has painted of cultural icons on the Seattle area’s traffic signal boxes, most of which are located in Queen Anne and West Seattle. The signal box mural located at the intersection of California St. and Fauntleroy Way is apparently Hansen’s favorite; a two-image box that has become almost a signature piece for the artist and which honors Seattle rock n’ roll legend Jimi Hendix.
Instagram: @desmondhansenart
Desmond’s iconic signal box murals have such a noticeable presence in our West Seattle neighborhood, he even gets called out by the West Seattle Blog when he’s in the middle of creating a new one, which happened last June. His skills are not limited to signal boxes, however. Hansen also paints wall murals. The colors in this one just blow me away:
Instagram: @desmondhansenart
Desmond also paints on canvas, is a digital artist with a keen eye for creating beautiful low riders and customs, a graphic artist that makes logos and more for companies, and he is experimental. Check out this video of him creating a wood burning piece of former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan – yes, I said wood burning. This man’s talent is extreme.
View this post on Instagram
“I love Desmond’s work,” said Canna West Culture Shop owner Maryam Mirnateghi. “I think most of us that commute in the Seattle area have been struck by his signal box murals. Those who walk along California Avenue get to experience his murals right outside of our Culture Shop, and often enter our shop wondering who created them, and how! His talent extends beyond his amazing murals though, and it was a pleasure hosting him and his artwork at the Culture Shop during the Art Walk.”
If you missed a chance to meet Desmond during the West Seattle Art Walk tour, his artwork will be on display at both the Culture Shop and Canna West Seattle for the rest of the month. Contact information is available in store to buy any artwork on display directly from the artist.
–
Don’t forget, the Culture Shop is conducting a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank through December 31. Anyone who wants to donate this holiday season can drop any non-perishable food items at the Culture Shop. After-hours food donations can be deposited at Canna West Seattle, located directly across the street. The Culture Shop will only accept non-perishable food items that are unopened and in good condition.
