The story behind the image:

Dust to Dust was designed as a diptych - the second panel depicted a blank wall above the existing painting. It forced viewers to look down at the subject and confront their feelings as they would when passing the subject on the sidewalk. When the single panel is hung at eye level, typical reactions by viewers appear limited to its aesthetic sans any apparent self-evaluation.

Dust to Dust is the first painting done in the Wall series. It was originally based on a photo taken by Hugh Hill. The dichotomy between the subject and the newspaper feature “Divas” presents a challenge regarding what values in life take precedence to society in general. It appears that the alternate reality is not too far from reality itself.

"In his work Dust to Dust, Peterson asserts a man of negligible social status who inhabits the lowest stratum of society is just as worthy of having his portrait painted as any titled individual or famous person and just as deserving of having his humanity recognized."

From Cave Painting to Street Art - 40,000 Years of Creativity, Rizzoli Publishing
(Dust to Dust was designated in a timeline as the initial start of the Hyperrealism movement worldwide in this art history textbook.)