Artist BIO

Born in 2000, Harper Hanson is a Colorado Native, living and creating in the Denver area. Her art focuses on lived experience with chronic and mental illness through a variety of mediums. Much of her recent work is needle and textile pieces exploring topics of how illness impacts one’s way of life. People often view mental and physical illness from a misconstrued or prejudiced perspective, and Harper is invested in using art and advocacy to change this inclination, debunk misinformation, and challenge stereotypes.

Harper’s art work has been featured in OCD Oregon’s art auction, OCD Action’s website, RMCAD Student Show and Research Symposium galleries, RMCAD “Out of the Box” Gallery, Spectra Art Space “For the Record” gallery, collaborations with other advocacy groups, and more. Her story has also been told on Seen Stories, Live Your Life with Purpose Podcast, and Your Dose Podcast and has articles featured on the OC87 Recovery Diaries, The Struggling Warrior, The Mighty, and more. Art and Advocacy are two of Harper’s biggest passions, and she hopes she can combine both into her artwork, but also her future role as a child life specialist.

After earning her BFA at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, she plans to pursue a Child Life Certification. As a Child Life Specialist, it will be her job to help make a hospital experience the least traumatic as possible for children and families. She will provide distraction and engagement with toys, crafts, and play, as well as explain procedures, and play a vital role in a child's care team and support system. It is her hope to use her skills as an artist and advocate to help children and families feel safe, seen, and heard.