COLUMBUS, OHIO.- The Columbus Museum of Art presents Duane Hanson: Portraits from the Heartland, through March 20, 2005. Featuring twenty-two of Hanson's realistic sculptures, Portraits from the Heartland offers a highly personal art experience. Hanson's compelling, life-size sculptures are so realistic that they often fool observers into believing they are actual people. These "people" challenge us to look more deeply into ourselves, our neighbors, and our world.

This is the first exhibition to focus primarily on Hanson's Midwestern upbringing and its influence on his artistic vision. As a social realist, Hanson looked at a wide range of subjects. He recognized and admired ordinary people and sought to make the public aware of their presence and contribution to society. Born in Minnesota and raised in a farming community, Hanson's agrarian environment instilled in him the value of hard work and the importance of community. This background is essential to understanding and interpreting Hanson's sculptures today. Duane Hanson: organized by the Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota.