The artistic genius of native son Thomas Hart Benton will be the focus of arts enthusiasts throughout the Midwest at the second annual Thomas Hart Benton Festival. A world-renowned artist born in Neosho, Missouri, Benton's work influenced American life and culture nationwide. His paintings epitomize and accentuate the beauty of the Ozarks and his murals grace buildings throughout the country. Benton's love of travel, deep respect for and interest in the people who worked the factories and the land come to life in his art, telling the story of our cities, mountains and rivers, and capturing the spirit of our great country.