New Media

American sculptor Duane Hanson took the art of sculpting to a new level. In the 1960s, he began making body casts of friends and family members, and then created life-like and life-size sculptures. These unique objects often catch museum-goers off guard—they look so real that you expect them to move at any given moment.

Often criticized because some do not consider this art, but rather a glorified figure that would be found in a wax museum, Hanson’s sculptures speak to the social human condition of everyday Americans, mundanely going about their daily tasks. The next time you attend an art museum, ask the docent if a Duane Hanson is part of the collection, but don’t be surprised if the docent does not answer you—he might be a sculpture!