Art from the Inside

Although there are over 2.3 million people currently incarcerated in the United States, the prison system remains largely invisible to the majority of Americans. Prisons tend to be built in rural areas, out-of-view and away from the daily lives of many. The physical and psychological marginalization and minoritization of system-impacted people allows us to ignore mass incarceration, even though it is among the most crucial issues of our time. Illuminating the Darkness: Our Carceral Landscape seeks to shine a light on the effects of incarceration on the lives of Americans. Whether in sculpture and installation, drawing and painting, video and photography, printmaking and book arts, the collected works explore slavery and freedom, despair and hope, oppression and the immutability of the human spirit.

Entry to the Dr. Phillips Center requires an event ticket. Patrons who wish to visit the exhibitions without an event ticket must register via the Visual Arts Pass link. Lobbies open an hour in advance of most events.