Hugh Lassen

Hugh Lassen was born in 1976 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He learned to carve after seeing a small Native American spear weight carving (also called a “Bird Stone”) in a museum. This surprising event lead him to study sculpture at the Art Students League of New York and drawing at the Spring Studio, NY.  Often an idea will emerge from a drawing and will provide the beginning for a sculpture. By carving directly in the stone or wood the idea will be refined until, hopefully, it works in the round. He lives with his wife and two children in Cherryfield, Maine. His public pieces include "Rhino," at the entrance to UMaine's Buchanan Alumni House and "Seed Form," also located at UMaine in the gardens of Buchanan. His pieces "Totem," and "Crocodile" were two of ten pieces selected as permanent installations at the newly-created Warren Memorial Sculpture Garden in Westbrook, Maine. Hugh's sculptures are in many private collections throughout the US.

Artist's Statement
    I find that my own sculptural aims revolve around mass, bulk, weight, in a phrase, ponderable form. For many years I've studied the figure using a range of exercises to develop my sense of touch. From these efforts and from my experiences carving, I realize that, despite being an abstract sculptor, my work is founded on human and animal forms.

   The subtle, quiet forces that inspire us are perhaps better left unstated but broadly, my aim is to create vital, life-enhancing forms.
Resumé

His work appeals to my appreciation of beautiful, clean,
simple shapes.
~Bruce Brown, curator emeritus Center for Maine Contemporary Art

Warren Memorial Sculpture Garden, Westbrook, Maine