Shan’s Bio 

Shan Bryan-Hanson is resident artist and founder of Shan Bryan-Hanson Studio + Gallery, a contemporary art space located on the beautiful Door County peninsula. After receiving her M.F.A. from the University of Montana, she spent nearly two decades in academia, most recently as curator and painting professor at St. Norbert College. In 2024, she followed a long-held dream and opened a studio in her hometown of Sturgeon Bay, WI. 

Shan’s art is made with a unique process, developed by the artist, that combines painting with intricate drawing and embroidery to create works of art layered with imagery, material, and medium. Her work, which has been featured in group and solo exhibitions, is often grounded in a single experience in nature: standing in a swarm of her backyard bees, watching a starling murmuration in Italy, or most recently, the experience of having a rare bird show up on her family property. From there she layers references to art history, the natural world, architectural elements, and geometry.

When not in the studio, Shan can be found exploring flora and fauna in her backyard or seeking inspiration on one Door County’s many beautiful trails.

Bio (shorter versions)

Short:

Shan is resident artist and founder of Shan Bryan-Hanson Studio + Gallery, a contemporary art space in Door County, WI. 

Mid:

Shan Bryan-Hanson is resident artist and founder of Shan Bryan-Hanson Studio + Gallery, a contemporary art space in Door County, WI. In 2024, after spending nearly two decades in academia, as a curator and painting professor, she opened her own studio in her hometown of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Shan’s art is made with a unique process, developed by the artist, that combines painting with intricate drawing and embroidery to create works of art layered with imagery, material, and medium.