Elaine Hanowell is a Pacific Northwest artist whose work is influenced by a deep love for nature, and a sensibility inspired by extensive travel and immersion in global cultures. Working primarily in paper and wood, her lighted sculptures are recognized throughout the West Coast, from large installations in public buildings, such as iconic Seattle restaurant The Dahlia Lounge, to smaller custom arrangements in private residences. Hanowell's work has been featured in solo and group shows since 1980. In 2007, Hanowell was honored with the Grand Prize in the Margo Harris Hammerschlag Biennial Open National Competition in Sculpture for Direct Carving, awarded by the National Association of Women Artists in New York, the oldest professional women's fine art organization in the United States. She has done several residencies in Indonesia to hone her skills as a woodcarver using traditional tools and woods. In 2015, she exhibited several hand-carved wood sculptures at the Bellevue Arts Museum in their "Knock on Wood" biennial.