A colorful new art installation at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is bringing one of Kansas City artist Jeff Hanson’s dreams to life years after his death.The towering sculpture, called “Growing Kindness,” was inspired by Hanson’s signature poppy artwork and officially was installed this week at the arboretum in Overland Park.Hanson became internationally known for his colorful paintings and charitable giving before cancer claimed his life at age 27.“He thought big and he dreamed big, and this would make him so happy,” said Julie Hanson.Jeff Hanson once described his work simply.“My art just makes me happy, it’s happy art,” Hanson said in archival video.The sculpture features massive stainless steel poppies designed to resemble floating balloons. Hanson loved poppies, and his family said the installation was designed to immerse visitors in the joyful feeling his artwork created.“They’re going to be able to touch the poppy and stand right underneath them and feel like a little ant underneath these massive Growing Kindness poppies,” Julie Hanson said.The towering structure is made from stainless steel and is expected to last for centuries.Hanson battled low vision throughout his life while also fighting cancer. Even as his health declined, his parents said he constantly reminded people how much he loved them.“He would say to us multiple times a day, ‘Love you. Love ya, Mom. I love ya,’” Julie Hanson said.Jeff Hanson dreamed of turning his artwork into large-scale sculptures, and his parents helped carry that vision forward after his death.“I think his story was such a story of kindness that people of all ages would look up to Jeff and think, ‘What am I doing?’ So the Growing Kindness poppy sculpture, I feel, will touch millions of lives,” Julie Hanson said.Hanson once called his art “a sight for sore eyes.”Now, his parents hope the sculpture becomes a place where visitors slow down, reflect and carry a little more kindness with them when they leave.“We need so much kindness in our world today, and I hope that just the name of it alone will inspire so many people,” his mother said.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —

A colorful new art installation at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is bringing one of Kansas City artist Jeff Hanson’s dreams to life years after his death.

The towering sculpture, called “Growing Kindness,” was inspired by Hanson’s signature poppy artwork and officially was installed this week at the arboretum in Overland Park.

Hanson became internationally known for his colorful paintings and charitable giving before cancer claimed his life at age 27.

“He thought big and he dreamed big, and this would make him so happy,” said Julie Hanson.

Jeff Hanson once described his work simply.

“My art just makes me happy, it’s happy art,” Hanson said in archival video.

The sculpture features massive stainless steel poppies designed to resemble floating balloons. Hanson loved poppies, and his family said the installation was designed to immerse visitors in the joyful feeling his artwork created.

“They’re going to be able to touch the poppy and stand right underneath them and feel like a little ant underneath these massive Growing Kindness poppies,” Julie Hanson said.

The towering structure is made from stainless steel and is expected to last for centuries.

Hanson battled low vision throughout his life while also fighting cancer. Even as his health declined, his parents said he constantly reminded people how much he loved them.

“He would say to us multiple times a day, ‘Love you. Love ya, Mom. I love ya,’” Julie Hanson said.

Jeff Hanson dreamed of turning his artwork into large-scale sculptures, and his parents helped carry that vision forward after his death.

“I think his story was such a story of kindness that people of all ages would look up to Jeff and think, ‘What am I doing?’ So the Growing Kindness poppy sculpture, I feel, will touch millions of lives,” Julie Hanson said.

Hanson once called his art “a sight for sore eyes.”

Now, his parents hope the sculpture becomes a place where visitors slow down, reflect and carry a little more kindness with them when they leave.

“We need so much kindness in our world today, and I hope that just the name of it alone will inspire so many people,” his mother said.