Justin LaRocca Hansen is a narrative artist who brings together childhood wonder, disciplined craft, and a profound connection to the place. Raised in a small Massachusetts town and shaped by summers in an even smaller Cape Cod village, Hansen’s early life was steeped in stories—picture books, comics, television, and the vivid oral histories of his parents and grandparents. This rich tapestry of storytelling ignited a creative spark, compelling him to craft his own characters and worlds as soon as he could wield a crayon.

Hansen discovered watercolor, a medium that would become both his muse and his challenge. Its fluidity and unpredictability captivated him, offering a dynamic counterpoint to the structured storytelling of his later work. After graduating from art college, he immersed himself in New York City’s vibrant creative scene, where he spent sixteen years but he found his true artistic home in the landscapes of Cape Cod.

Embracing the medium’s “unruly and unforgiving” nature, Hansen’s paintings capture the region’s serene yet evocative beauty, infused with a gentle quality that invites viewers into his personal mythology. With a wealth of untold stories still within him, Hansen rides the “watercolor waves” with an explorer’s spirit, letting the medium guide him toward new horizons. His work stands as an invitation to embrace the interplay of discipline and dream, craft and chaos, in the timeless art of storytelling.