Artist: Stephen Hansen
Title: The Builders (Lawrence)
Medium: Acrylic/Paper Mache'
Dimensions: 22.5"h x 26"w
"The Builders" is a vibrant reimagining of Jacob Lawrence's "The Builders," depicting multiple construction workers laboring on a wooden structure. The figures are stylized with angular forms and strong, exaggerated movements, emphasizing the effort and teamwork involved in their task. They wear varied attire such as blue overalls, hats, and work gloves, actively handling wooden beams and tools. The color palette consists of bold reds, blues, blacks, and tans, creating a stark contrast and energy throughout the composition. In the foreground, a three-dimensional figure of a painter, dressed in a splattered white outfit, stands on a ladder physically extending from the painting itself, holding a brush near the painted surface, integrating the boundary between the artwork and the viewer's space. The image blends two-dimensional painted elements with a three-dimensional sculpture, highlighting the playful interaction between the two mediums.