In Confinement

In Confinement reflects my ability to find humanity even in seemingly the darkest of places. I had the unimaginable and generally objectionable experience of being imprisoned. As has always been my custom, during the time I spent behind those sterile walls, I often searched for the light: the good in all of us. These portraits are part of a collection of drawings I created while in confinement. They capture the essence of those I left behind the electrified fence, most of whom anxiously await a second chance at living a dignified existence despite the choices and circumstances that brought them there.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a man wearing glasses and a knit cap, sitting on the floor and leaning against a bench while watching television.

Jerry Watching TV

2019 ·Ink and gray markers on paper · 5.75 × 8.25 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a shirtless, tattooed man lying on a bunk with headphones resting on his stomach.

Scotty (inspired by Manet’s Olympia)

2018 · Ink on paper · 5.75 × 8.25 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a man sitting in a prison dayroom with his arms crossed, with a barred upper level behind him, surrounded by a clock and institutional signs.

John

2015 · Ink and gray markers on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a man sitting on his bunk feeding wet bread dough to a small bird, with his locker and a narrow prison window in the background.

Daniel feeding Meño

2015 · Ink and gray markers on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a typical state prison lunch: a small carton of milk, four slices of bread, a packet of peanut butter, and a packet of jelly.

State Prison Lunch

2018 · Ink and gray markers on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a shirtless man eating popcorn, with his chest and arms covered in tattoos.

Jimmy Eating Popcorn

2018 · Ink and gray markers on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a man wearing prison scrubs, with a seated Buddha statue in the background.

Anthony and the Buddha

2019 · Ink on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

Black-and-white ink drawing of a man resting his arms on the low wall of his cubicle and looking over the prison tier.

Taz Looking Over the Tier

2018 · Ink and gray markers on paper · 8.25 × 5.75 in.

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