Voices of the Incarcerated - Art for Redemption

"Art is a way to self-introspection, a path to discovering and healing for many individuals. And if today the data reflects that prison does not necessarily work in terms of rehabilitation —suggesting that a need for a switch of criminal justice is needed— arts in prison is not only an escape for the mind but also a means to understand oneself and heal."

-from Art for Redemption website.

Art for Redemption was founded by Denver artist and entrepreneur Buck Adams with the support of Defy Colorado, a nonprofit that helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people develop new business ventures. The effort aims to connect incarcerated artists with paid work opportunities by selling their work while incarcerated in order to create a savings account; an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to reducing recidivism and helping to set them up for success upon release, while also highlighting the humanity of the people impacted by the U.S. prison system.

Once himself incarcerated, Adams noted that inmates often created art as a way to pass the time. He saw incredible talent and ingenuity in the work they created. They were often only allowed very short pencils and weren’t allowed to have whole pens, just the ink capsule inserts in ballpoint pens. Yet the lack of resources allowed room for creativity.

Adams remembers some inmates twisting and weaving trash bags together to create art and necklaces. He said some artists would wet Jolly Ranchers to use the different juice colors as a dye resembling watercolor paint.

It struck Adams that, though most of the artists had no formal training, some of their works could sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars outside of prison. But because they had no way to share or sell their art in the outside world, they would often just throw it out. Some created an internal marketplace, trading their artworks for a jar of peanut butter, or a pack of tuna, or some stamps so they could write to their families.

Through Art for Redemption, artists receive 50% of the proceeds from the sales of their original artwork and the other half goes to support the business costs. A 10% royalty goes to the artist for each print on demand associated product sale.

Visit the Art for Redemption website to learn more about the organization and browse their artist gallery to view original artwork and prints on-demand.