COLUMBUS.- The leaves in the piece—each handmade of paper—are based on individual leaves gathered by Hammond between 2004 and 2008, and the spread of leaves grows as soldiers die. Fallen was first exhibited at Galerie Lelong in New York in 2005, and shortly thereafter was acquired by the Whitney Museum of American Art. The first presentation of Fallen opened with 1,511 leaves; its iteration when it opens here will include 3,994 leaves, a poignant reminder of lives lost in the intervening years. Over the course of the presentation at the Wexner Center, additional leaves will be created by the artist and placed on the platform.

Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin says: “Having initially seen Fallen in its earliest gallery exhibition, it is something of a bittersweet honor to present this work—now three times its original configuration—at the Wexner Center. No matter what one’s political or military perspective, one can’t help but be touched and overwhelmed by the poetry of Hammond’s gesture to mark each individual life lost with a unique, meticulously crafted reflection of nature.”

Based in New York, Hammond has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the country, and her work is in public collections around the world, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Primarily a painter, Hammond also works with photographs and printmaking. One of her most celebrated works was a collaboration with poet John Ashbery, where she created 62 works inspired by titles suggested by him. In 2003, Hammond became the first woman to design the poster for the French Open. Hammond will be a guest at the Spring Exhibition Opening on Friday, May 9, 6–9 pm.