Hugh Lassen

Hugh Lassen and Lori Tremblay
Hypothesis: Stars as Stone
July 23-August 19,2018 Reception July 28, 4-6 pm

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.

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 my work is founded on the human form, and occasionally, on animal forms.

Resumé

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

"Arching Form" granite on granite base

"Seed Form" glacial erratic 44" x 39" x 19" on granite base 18" x 21" x 6" private collection

Arching Form granite on granite base 47 x 47 x 24 private collection

"Recumbent Form" Blue Stone on Blue Stone base 17" x 31" x 12"

Emerging Form granite on granite base 33 x 27 x 28

"Sea Form" installed at The Buchanan Alumni House at the University of Maine, November 2014

"Clasp" in its new home in Boston

"Bud Form" joins "Clasp" in its new home in Boston.

"Totem" granite on granite base

Rhino 2015 granite 49 x 54 x 34 on granite base 43 x 45 x 12
Installed August, 2017 at the University of Maine Buchanan Alumni House
University of Maine Foundation