Diane Hanson was born in 1976 into a family of farmers in rural
southern Minnesota. Her artistic ability was evident from an early age.
Ms. Hanson exhibited extensively throughout her childhood at many art
competitions around the state. At the age of sixteen she was accepted
to the Arts High School (now the Perpich Center for the Arts) in
Golden Valley, MN. Having relocated to Minneapolis in order to attend
the Arts High School, Ms. Hanson was exposed to a wider range of
artistic influences including summer studio classes at the Atelier,
Studio Program of Fine Art.

Following the arts high school Hanson was accepted to the Boston
University School for the Arts (now the College of Fine Arts). Ms.
Hanson chose BU for its renowned painting faculty and its location on
the east coast. While at Boston University Ms. Hanson studied with
both Alfred Leslie and John Walker. Shortly after graduating she was
awarded a full fellowship to attend the Vermont Studio Center
in Johnson, VT.

Following her time in New England, Ms. Hanson moved to Dallas, TX
in order to accept a graduate teaching assistant position at Southern
Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts. While completing
her MFA, Hanson was invited to serve as a teaching assistant for the
SMU in Italy summer program. Upon completing her MFA,
Ms. Hanson was awarded the Miguel Vinciguerra Fund Grant and
Fulbright Travel Grant to study and work in Italy.

While in Italy, Ms. Hanson had critiques with Mario Teleri-Biason. She
also used Teleri-Biason's print shop in order to create the many intaglio
prints that she executed during her extensive travels throughout Italy.

After leaving Rome, Ms. Hanson returned briefly to Minnesota to
accept a residency at the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
in Red Wing Minnesota. She was also awarded a Minnesota State Arts
Board Artist Assistance Fellowship Grant.

Both while in Rome and at the Anderson Center, Ms. Hanson was
surrounded by artists in other disciplines such as authors and musicians.
Ms. Hanson collaborated with creative writer Marisa Escolar to create
three works which incorporate Escolar's text and Hanson's images. All
three of the works reflected the two artist's experiences while living in
Rome.

Shortly after returning to Minnesota, Ms. Hanson moved to Miami, FL
where she became a juried artist at the ArtCenter/ South Florida. In
2004, she was awarded the Leo Chestler Contemporary Visual
Art Award.

In 2007 Ms. Hanson moved to Baton Rouge, LA and became a
member of the Baton Rouge Gallery. Her work is included in numerous
private collections throughout the United States, Italy, France, and
Portugal. She currently resides and works in Baton Rouge, LA.