Beauty Behind Bars: The Transformative Power of Art in Confinement

An Outreach Exhibit

Featuring visual art and poetry by Clients of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS)

Fernard Strowbridge · Arlis Hicks-Bey · Curtis Dickson
David Watkins · Harry Ellis · Keith Starr · LaVander Williams · Mark Johnson · Melvin Jones · Richard Johnson · Preston Logan · Ernest Heath · William Hurwitz · Greg Bolden ·

Curated by Anokhi Shah & LaVander Williams

Hosted by Studio Gallery and sponsored by PDS and Returning Citizens Assistance Network (RCAN)

Thursday, January 2nd through Saturday, January 25th, 2025

Beauty Behind Bars: The Transformative Power of Art in Confinement presents a collection of evocative, poignant and beautiful pieces created by incarcerated artists, each a powerful meditation on resilience, hope, and the human capacity for change. This groundbreaking exhibit allows audiences to see beyond prison walls into artists’ lives, shaped by reflection and the quest for connection through their enduring creativity. Curated by a formerly incarcerated artist and a public defender, this exhibit strives to affirm the humanity of incarcerated artists and demonstrate art’s profound and curative roles in the lives of people who have lost their freedom. Each piece challenges stereotypes and the all too unforgiving narratives about incarcerated persons. They bear witness to the transformative and redemptive power of art, even in the most inhumane of conditions.

To donate to this effort click here. Select Dropdown Option 5 “RCAN Returning Citizens Contribution”. Enter payment information. In the comments, write Beauty Behind Bars. You must write this to ensure that your money goes to the artist’s commissary.

Artist Biographies

LaVander Williams, Co-Curator

LaVander Williams, 33, is a self-taught artist from Washington D.C. specializing in realism through the versatile mediums of graphite, charcoal, and colored pencils. Drawing inspiration from both his personal experiences and a desire for creative expression, Mr. Williams transforms everyday moments into intricate visual narratives. As a formerly incarcerated person who spent nearly 16 years of his young life in prison, Mr. Williams discovered art as a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery. Engaging with organizations like the Free Minds Book Club and other non-profit organizations, he has found community and purpose in using creativity to uplift and empower others. Through his work, Mr. Williams seeks to challenge perceptions and inspire conversations around resilience and transformation. His artwork not only showcases technical skills but also serves as a testament to the journey of growth and renewal. Mr. Williams believes in the profound impact art can have in bringing people together and fostering understanding across diverse backgrounds. He is honored to be a co-curator of this exhibit, uplifting the voices of others who create extraordinary art behind bars.

Harry Ellis

Harry Ellis was born and raised in the District of Columbia. His family lived in the Trinidad neighborhood. Mr. Ellis is 48 years old and has been incarcerated for the past 22 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He began his incarceration in March of 2003. Mr. Ellis’s love of art began when he was child when he was exposed to a painting done by his grandmother that was hung in his family home. When Mr. Ellis was a third-grade student at Ruth K. Webb Elementary school, he won an art contest. He received a $50 dollar savings bond and a handheld puppet. Mr. Ellis credits his art teacher at Webb, Ms. Spratlin, for encouraging him and teaching him about creating art. Mr. Ellis believes art saved his life during his incarceration. He puts great stock in Paul Robeson’s observation that “Artists are the gatekeepers of truth.” Mr. Ellis’s work often is rooted in his experiences before and during his incarceration. He wants people to know about the struggles and challenges of life behind bars. Mr. Ellis “seeks to move beyond metaphor; to strip away the layers of abstraction and expose the raw nerve of injustice.” He “intends to force a confrontation, to leave the viewer with an unsettling awareness of the carceral system’s devastating consequences.” He believes we are all capable of redemption and should be allowed a second chance. Confinement limits his access to art supplies so Mr. Ellis creatively uses whatever materials he has available. For instance, he uses baby powder for paint primer and has used coffee as a watercolor paint. Mr. Ellis works in multiple mediums but his principal mediums are oil paint and acrylic paint.

Jovan D. James

Jovan D. James was born in Washington, D.C., where he was exposed to the vibrant art and museum culture as a kid. This fueled his love and appreciation for art. Mr. James has always had a natural inclination toward creativity, intellectual, and entrepreneurial pursuits. Known for his skill with words, unique perspective, and innovative approach, he has channeled his talents into various forms, both artistic and entrepreneurial. An avid reader and passionate debater, Mr. James has developed a distinctive voice that resonates through his work. Throughout his life, he has engaged deeply with the community, dedicating himself to guiding at-risk young adults in financial literacy and life skills. During his 22 years of incarceration, he took on the role of tutor, helping incarcerated people strengthen their academic skills and broadening his own view on resilience and growth. Mr. James supports other returning citizens, ushering men across multiple generations into society, using wisdom he has gained from his own journey. He engages them with a wealth of resources to help them transition into and navigate the world successfully, promoting self-exploration, independence, and altruism. Today, Mr. James expresses his artistic vision through a unique medium—clothing. He combines textures, materials, and designs in unexpected ways, transforming garments into powerful statements that reflect both his life experiences and his eye for fashion. As a father, entrepreneur, and advocate, he continues to inspire others with his story and his art, turning each piece into a testament to creativity, self-expression, and the power of change.

Ernest Heath

Ernest Heath is a self-taught artist born and raised in the District of Columbia. He is 39 years old. He was 21 years old when his incarceration began in 2007. During his almost two decades of confinement, he has been incarcerated in penitentiaries as far away as Florence, Colorado. He is currented confined in USP Canaan in Waymart, Pennsylvania. Mr. Heath was creating art when he was 11 years old. At this age, he created with discarded materials that others considered trash. Both as a young artist and now in adulthood, art has served as a medium for Mr. Heath to express and address the issues and concerns that have shaped his life. As an incarcerated artist, Mr. Heath’s art is motivated and informed by the harsh conditions of prison. He wants those who come to view the art in this exhibit to know that he is as excited and curious about the human condition and all its complexities at age 39 as he was when he was 11. Mr. Heath set out to learn about himself and to grow as a person as well as an artist. During his incarceration he learned how to draw with pencils and paint. And he learned how to create greeting cards, picture frames, necklaces and jewelry boxes using materials that other inmates had discarded and thrown away. Mr. Heath wants those who come to view his art and his community in the District of Columbia “to know that although he made some bad decisions earlier in life, he is still useful.” When Mr. Heath regains his freedom, he will return to his community to develop programs to teach troubled youth how to express themselves in a positive way. He will use art as one of his tools to accomplish this.

Preston R. Logan

Preston R. Logan is 61 years old. He was born in Asheville, North Carolina and grew up in the Southeast section of Washington D.C. Mr. Logan always loved to draw as a child. He went to school for art, attending Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Art has always been a part of Mr. Logan’s life and that has continued during his nearly two decades of incarceration. Mr. Logan loves detail and that informs his art. He always found painting an amazing process. When he was at FCI Hazelton he was given a wide berth to create art in the facility’s art room. It was while he was confined at Hazelton that he began painting. Acrylic, oil and pastel chalk are the mediums he uses. Mr. Logan’s participation in this art exhibit has lit a fire and he is excited to share his art with the world.

Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson was born and raised in the District of Columbia. His family lived in the Petworth neighborhood. Mr. Johnson is 38 years old and has been incarcerated for 17 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Art to Mr. Johnson is spiritual and brings him peace. He believes we all must account for our time and notwithstanding his incarceration, he too must account for his time. Art permits him to do that. It is also a means of expression in a carceral environment that suppresses open expression. There is a saying known to all who enter the BOP: “leave your feelings at R&D.” (Receiving and Discharge). Mr. Johnson’s art provides him a platform to resist this reality of incarceration. Mr. Johnson can trace his love of art to when he was a six- year-old child. He uses oil pastel, colored pencil, and acrylic paint. Mr. Johnson also creates ceramics. Mr. Johnson uses whatever mediums he has available to create his art, such as the wax used in prison to clean floors and olive oil used for cooking. After he finishes his creations, he blends colors with olive oil applied with a q-tip to give his paintings a more life-like appearance.

Keith Starr

Keith Starr was born and raised in Washington D.C. and grew up in the Valley Green neighborhood. From a young age, he exhibited creativity and a love for reading and writing. He aced elementary school spelling bees and kept detailed journals; he could always be found scribbling in a notebook. He recorded his observations of his life and the lives of those around him, and always felt drawn to stories. Mr. Starr’s passion for reading and writing continued when he was incarcerated at the young age of 17. Writing was a cathartic process for Mr. Starr, and it helped him process his feelings and make sense of his world. He wrote many stories throughout his 28 years of incarceration, even authoring three full-length novels. One of his books, Devil’s Lane, is set to be published. His favorite genres to read and write are action, suspense, and thrillers. Though his works are fiction, his characters, plots, and themes reflect his real-life experiences. Mr. Starr also writes socially-conscious poetry based on his life experiences, and his poem “End Mental Poverty” was featured by the Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop. Mr. Starr strongly believes in the power of storytelling, and he encourages others to write their truths. As he writes in one of his other novels, Money Bags: “Just because we feel abandoned or feel as though we don’t have the same privileges, or aren’t as fortunate, doesn’t mean we don’t have potential. It doesn’t mean we can’t accomplish goals. It doesn’t mean we can’t progress in life.”

Curtis Dickson

Curtis Dickson is from Washington D.C. He entered prison at the age of 17. He has been incarcerated for 27 years. Now 46 years old, he’s been incarcerated for almost three decades. He is a self-taught artist who began creating art as a child, drawing Marvel comic characters. As a child he won art contests. He’s been writing novels and poetry for years, spanning fantasy narratives, romance, vampire stories, and espionage. His poetry has touched on friendship and reflections on his past. He authored a children’s book, “Awakening David.” His poetry has been published in MEND Magazine, a Syracuse University publication project that celebrates the creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons. Mr. Dickson is also a talented visual artist. Although his passion is to write novels, scrolls, and poetry, he loves to draw. His inspiration came from a well-known artist who views the world through the beauty of her vision of the world. Mr. Dickson’s creativity draws on the contours of speech in various forms, what he calls the linqua franca. Incorporating poetry in his work, he hopes it inspires others to draw strength and to acknowledge, “It Starts with You.” Mr. Dickson has two years left on his sentence. His family, including his mother and daughter, eagerly await his return home. He looks forward to seeking a publisher for his copyrighted works once home.

Greg Bolden

Greg Bolden (#gregBOLDeNtheARTist) is a D.C. native who was reared in the NE quadrant of the city. He considers himself an artistic “engineer” whose reach magnifies beyond sometimes even his own imagination. At the age of six, by instruction of his first-grade teacher, he discovered his God-given gift for drawing. By the eighth grade, his love and knack for art grew into a better understanding of the craft and he began to work in oil pastels. Under the guidance of his teacher, Ms. Ewing, his skills developed and he placed second for portraiture in the Duke Ellington Art contest. As a redemptive being who has been through the fire and been able to emerge, heeding the lifelong lessons of his actions, he is in a unique position to better understand what works in terms of change and lowering recidivism. He has heeded the lifelong lessons of his actions: When asked about what one can expect from his art and future endeavors, Mr. Bolden says: “You can expect me to continue to create art that expresses my identity and to introduce Black themes into American modernism. To portray my experiences and spontaneity in my art as well as inspire and evoke thought. I am emBOLDeN to emerge from the ashes of ignorance, poverty, crime and desecration that once choked my very existence, into a vital force that will contribute to art, change, and the uplifting of humanity.” Mr. Bolden’s most acclaimed titles above that of creative are those of loving husband and father.

David T. Watkins

David T. Watkins is 45 years old. He was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in the Northeast section of the city. His incarceration began in 1998 and he has now served 26 years of his 37-years-to-life sentence. Mr. Watkins has drawn all his life. He is a self-taught artist and has never received any formal art training except for in 2006 when he took a pencil drawing class. His principal medium is colored pencils. Mr. Watkins draws a wide array of subjects and his work ranges from portraits to animals to cartoons. During his incarceration he has used his artistic skills to create cards with drawings for nephews and nieces and other family members. Art for Mr. Watkins has been a type of meditation that permits him go beyond the walls that physically confine him. Creating art is a way to relax and to find tranquility. Mr. Watkins never contemplated having a platform to share his art with the world. He is excited to do so and hopes it brings others the type of joy it has brought him.

Arlis Zarkiai Hicks-Bey

Arlis Zarkiai Hicks-Bey was born and raised in the District of Columbia near 62 nd Street, close to the Maryland border. A lasting memory from his childhood is riding the No. 2 Metro bus from one end of the line to the other. As a child, Mr. Hicks-Bey was constantly driven to create something out of nothing. He loved repairing broken household items for family members. Mr. Hicks-Bey has now been incarcerated for 38 years. He wants the world to know that he is not the same person now who he was when he began his incarceration. His journey through incarceration has been a difficult one. During his 38 years, art has been a force for good in his life, allowing him to grow, learn, and affirm his humanity. Available books and magazines have been a source of artistic inspiration. Mr. Hicks-Bey works in various mediums: drawing, leatherwork, precision sewing, and candy art. He loves creating art with leather and available fabric materials. The process of creating artwork through sewing appeals to him because the stitch work requires almost surgical precision. He creates watch bands and bedding items with whatever materials are available. He sometimes uses a rock or hard plastic item to drive the needle into the material he is working with. Another medium through which he expresses his artistic skills is the creation of candy art. Mr. Bey-Hicks learned the art of taffy making from another incarcerated person while at USP Tucson, and shares both his artwork and candy art with others. But sometimes he loses that opportunity to share his art. A hard reality of incarceration is the complete lack of control over one’s property. This means that when BOP staff conduct prison-wide “shake downs,” art Mr. Hicks-Bey has created is sometimes seized or destroyed. But he keeps creating art. Mr. Hicks-Bey believes “every human being has something to give back to this world.” He hopes that by sharing his artwork with those who are incarcerated with him, he helps them get on the right track in life. He believes he has found that path to be a force of good in this world.

Fernard Strowbridge

Fernard Strowbridge is 57 years old. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Washington D.C. as a teenager in 1985. He lived in the Southeast section of the District of Columbia, near Fort Dupont Park. He was incarcerated on October 3, 1998 and is serving a 30- years-to-life sentence. Mr. Strowbridge has been incarcerated for 26 years. Mr. Strowbridge started creating art when he was three years old. His first drawing, a Trailways Bus, was done on the back of a professional certificate that belonged to his uncle. Mr. Strowbridge’s uncle has kept that drawing, and it remains in the family’s possession as a treasured reminder of Mr. Strowbridge’s innate talent. Mr. Strowbridge works in pencil and pen. Through art classes, he learned about shading, perception and how to use various implements in creating his art. Drawing is his principal platform for artistic expression. He draws a wide array of subjects, including portraits. During his incarceration, art has permitted Mr. Strowbridge to go beyond his corporeal circumstances. Art places him in his own creative world filled with light and joy. Mr. Strowbridge has an expression that has carried him forward for almost three decades of incarceration, “Positively Consistent.” This expression focuses on the importance of striving to do right regardless of one’s circumstances. Mr. Strowbridge believes that tough times do not last, but tough people do. One of Mr. Strowbrige’s creative aspirations is to see an animated graphic cartoon he has created about an educational superhero come to fruition to elevate the vital importance of education and knowledge. Mr. Strowbridge has created art throughout his incarceration and hopes to pursue art when he returns home. Mr. Strowbridge wants to use his art skills to inspire others to do good in this world, and that is what he intends to do when he regains his freedom.

Melvin Jones

Melvin Jones is a 74-year-old self-taught artist from Washington, D.C. who currently lives in North Carolina. He first began making art in middle school, when he would draw stick figures of animals and people. As time went on, his talent grew. Today he draws portraits of people. His favorite material to use is oil pastels. Mr. Jones attributes his growth to the help he got from his friends. For example, while at FCI Cumberland he met someone from New York who was talented at blending pastels together with his fingers, and this friend taught Mr. Jones color blending techniques. Mr. Jones principally creates portraits from existing images of celebrities and other public figures as well as family members of persons he has met during his incarceration. Mr. Jones begins his creative process by selecting the image and projecting it onto a canvas, piece of paper, or another medium. He then employs a tracing process to shape and size the portrait image and to incorporate in the portrait additional unique visual images. He then brings his works to life with pastels, pencils, and oil and acrylic paint. Mr. Jones is also a musician. While in prison, he played guitar almost daily with friends, and on special occasions musicians from the community would play with them. On holidays, Mr. Jones and some of his friends would form a band and play at events, providing entertainment for everyone. His band would practice almost every day leading up to these events. Art and music helped Mr. Jones make it through his sentence, keep his mind busy, and it gave him something to look forward to each day. Mr. Jones always thought “if I can get through one day, I can get through another.” Mr. Jones was in prison for 43 years, and today lives in North Carolina with a friend, two guitars, and plenty of paint.

Richard A. Johnson

Richard A. Johnson was born and raised in Washington D.C. He has been incarcerated for nearly 35 years, and he has survived nearly 25 years of solitary confinement. As a child, Mr. Johnson fell behind in his education as the public school system failed to recognize his unique talents and needs. When he was incarcerated at the age of 17, he experienced shame and embarrassment because he could not read or write. These limitations were exacerbated by limited educational and programming opportunities, and when he was locked down in a cell for 23 hours a day for decades, learning felt nearly impossible. But Mr. Johnson possesses an unbreakable spirit. He began opening up to his family and friends about his struggles with education. He shouldered his pride and asked for help when he needed it. Before long, he was reading his first book, Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Mr. Johnson related to the main character of the book, who is hidden from society for much of his childhood. Like the character, Mr. Johnson said, he was coming out of hiding and learning about the world. His first poem, “An Understanding Truth,” honors his journey of “coming out of the darkness I’ve been in my whole life.” His second poem, “Understand My Truth: Patience,” is about the friendships he has developed over his time in prison—the “small voices” that have pulled him out of the darkness and helped him grow into a better reader, writer, and person. Mr. Johnson hopes to be one of these voices to youth when he returns home. He hopes to be a mentor to help guide struggling children toward the right path. He recognizes that the values he adopted as a child—recognition, approval, and acceptance—are no longer important to him. He wants to help children understand the importance of life so that they can find their true purpose and develop internal pride, rather than chasing fast money or recognition. His greatest wish is to help raise his grandchildren with the values that now guide his life: education, family, integrity, empathy, and gratitude.

William Hurwitz

William Hurwitz, MD, JD, is a 79-year-old retired physician from Boston, Massachusetts. He practiced Internal Medicine for over 20 years in metropolitan Washington, DC before his incarceration and now lives in North Carolina. While in prison he had the pleasure of befriending other incarcerated people from radically different backgrounds than he had previously been exposed to. Discussions with others triggered his desire to capture in verse some of the issues that moved them or to express their feelings for those they loved. The poems presented in this exhibit illustrate these themes. Prison life afforded Mr. Hurwitz a richer social and cultural life than he expected would be possible during incarceration. He used his prior musical education as a pianist to teach music theory to other incarcerated people, learned to play the bass guitar, and joined a group that spent recreation time playing and singing R&B and Gospel classics. His prison job was preparing students for the GED exam. After his release he continues to help a number of the friends he made in prison. Mr. Hurwitz served his incarceration at FCI Cumberland in West Virginia. He was released in 2009.

Anokhi Shah, Co-Curator

Anokhi Shah is a self-taught Indian artist from Apex, North Carolina. She has created art all her life and today work in a wide spectrum of mediums, including pen-and-ink-acrylic and oil paint, fabric, and paper collage. She is also a writer of poetry and short stories. Reflecting her cultural and spiritual heritage, Anokhi’s creations often draw inspiration from traditional Indian rangoli, mandala, and mehndi designs and Jain principles of ahimsa (non-violence), karma, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. By day, Anokhi serves as a Mitigation Specialist for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where she authors life history reports for people serving extreme sentences> Many of her clients are creatives themselves, and their art inspired her work and sparked the idea for this exhibit. Anokhi’s passions, in both work and art, lie in challenging systems of oppression and advocating for change by showcasing the beauty, strength and resilience of survivors of the criminal legal system. Her invites people to engage in critical dialogue and act toward creating a more just society. She is honored to be a co-curator of this exhibit and looks forward to creating more opportunities to amplify the voices of currently an formerly incarcerated artists.