Lani Hankins is an artist and poet living in the Flint Hills of Kansas who uses art and poetry to share personal stories addressing everything from hardship to heartache, falling in love to falling apart, and pushing forward in times of hopelessness. She has been creating art for nearly 30 years and has been inspired by surrealist painters, growing up near the ocean, her military service, and life on the prairie. Lani prefers to explore dark themes, taboo topics, and uncomfortable imagery, using creativity as a means to reflect, heal, and bring awareness to things like violence, mental health, and veteran suicide.

Invadergirl began painting mission-driven pieces in 2020 as a way to capture the stories of Active Duty Service Members, Veterans, Law Enforcement, and the many extraordinary individuals of our generation. She believes that great art has the power to move the soul, stir emotions, and ignite action—serving as both a reflection of our past and a vision for the future.

Although she has never served in the military herself, Invadergirl has spent her life immersed in military communities around the world. The stories of service members and the remarkable people she has met along the way continue to inspire her work, shaping each piece with a deep sense of purpose.

Through her art, she strives to honor generations past and present, preserving their experiences in a way that resonates beyond words. Her hope is to leave behind a body of work that not only captures the struggles and triumphs of our time but also sheds light on the history we are actively shaping for tomorrow.

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In a nutshell, I'm an artist and author who grew up in the middle of nowhere, Northern MN.

I've never been excited to talk about myself or the nuances of my artistic journey and process of creation... I feel that if an artist or writer has to resort to deep and complicated elaborations on the purpose and/or symbolism of their work, then the creation probably isn't saying anything at all...

And most of my life I've tended toward shyness and introversion, escaping into creativity, while simultaneously (and mostly subconsciously) volunteering personal views on society, history, spirituality and self. Only, I didn't realize that for a long time..

If anyone wants to know more about me, I hope that my work can and will speak for me... at least, the most important parts of me. Look for me there. : )

Thank you for reading. ~Jaime

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