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Sioux Falls artist Mark Hansen has been honored as one of nine Midwestern artists to receive the 2024 Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities from Art Midwest, one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations.

Hansen’s story of becoming an award-winning artist is one of perseverance and awe. Now 65, he suffered a debilitating stroke almost four years ago. The stroke robbed him of many verbal skills and the ability to use his dominant right hand.

At the time of the stroke, Hansen had worked for most of his career as an art director in the advertising industry, creating eye-catching designs and logos for his clients. He did pencil sketches as a hobby.

Following his stroke, Hansen underwent rehabilitation at a Nebraska facility and trained himself to use his left hand to draw. And he switched from pencil to color pencils. His mastery of the craft in such a short time has amazed the local, and now regional, arts community.