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.