ABOUT hansen Mulford

Hansen Mulford is a lifelong Floridian and one of the foremost interpreters of the state’s natural beauty. As one of the last remaining painters devoted exclusively to the Florida landscape tradition, his work captures a vanishing genre with remarkable clarity and emotional depth. Through carefully rendered realism, Mulford brings to life the coastlines, wetlands, spring-fed rivers, and quiet rural towns that define Florida’s spirit—infused always with the distinct light and atmosphere that only a native could know so intimately.

Mulford earned his M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in 1978 and his B.A. in Fine Arts from the University of South Florida in 1975. He joined the Orlando Museum of Art in 1981, serving for over 40 years and retiring as Chief Curator and head of the Collections and Exhibitions Department in 2023. His curatorial leadership helped shape the trajectory of Florida’s art scene and brought national attention to regional talent. 

During the 1990s, his work was represented by the Sherry French Gallery in New York, introducing his vision of Florida to a wider national audience.

Hansen Mulford’s paintings are more than landscapes—they are personal histories rendered in light and form. As a visual steward of Florida’s unique environment, he stands among the last great painters dedicated to honoring the state’s natural legacy through art.

Alongside his curatorial career, Mulford has maintained a respected and accomplished practice as a painter. He is a two-time recipient of the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship (1985 and 1991), and his work has received national and scholarly recognition. Notable publications featuring his paintings include:

• American Artist Magazine, “Painting Paradise” (Cover Story, February 1993)
• The Artist and the American Landscape, by John Driscoll (Chamaeleon Books, Inc., 1998)
• Florida’s First River: A Visual History of the St. Johns, by Mallory O’Connor (University Press of Florida, 2009)

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