Cellblock Visions: Art by Prisoners

An exhibition featuring art created by inmates is now on display at the Karl and Helen Burger Gallery. Cellblock Visions: Prison Art in America, curated by Phyllis Kornfeld, includes 60 works by men and women imprisoned in jails and penitentiaries across six states. 

A reception will be held on Tuesday, April 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the gallery. Admission to the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Cellblock Visions: Prison Art in America will be on display through July 23, 2018.

"It is great to see the amazing creativity that these incarcerated artists have found within themselves," said Neil Tetkowski, director of Kean Galleries. 

Kornfeld has been working directly with prisoners around the country for more than 35 years in all levels of security, county jail, maximum security and death row—providing the transformative experience of art. In addition to traditional art forms, the inmates have created prison folk arts, fine paintings, drawings and other objects. 

“Creativity, truth and goodness can be elicited just as violence can,” said Kornfeld. “These artists tell the truth, without self-consciousness, unfettered by concepts and theory.”

Cellblock Visions: Prison Art In America 

Now through July 23

Karl & Helen Burger Gallery

Kean University

1000 Morris Ave. Union, N.J.

Gallery Hours: Monday—Friday 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.kean.edu/galleries, email galleries@kean.edu or call (908) 737-0392.

Photo Caption: 

Braulio Diez, "Condominium," acrylic