"Broken memories" - David Cotto

The artist is currently incarcerated in New York. He specializes in story-telling drawings.

All original artworks are created by artists previously or currently incarcerated. They use whichever materials they have access to, and prove creative ingenuity beyond the norm. These original paintings and drawings are born in the heart of a prison cell, from the hands of an outsider artist to adorn the walls of your space. Each art piece is a one-of-a-kind that not only enhances your interior but also makes you actively participate in reforming the prison and criminal justice system.

The incarcerated artist receives 50% of the sales proceeds. The artists set their own prices based on the costs of materials (it can vary greatly from one facility to another), the time spent on the piece, their experience, and simply - what they think it’s worth. Alongside with offering a financial outlet, we aim to empower their confidence and reinstitute their status as human beings - not a number behind bars. For most, art is an escape, a path to self-discovery and healing. Through art, they can reconnect with society so the gap is not so unbridgeable when they get out. Through the sales, they can stay connected with their families, afford daily commissary items, pay societal debts, relieve the economic burden on their loved ones, and save up for the release date. So they have the financial means to get ahead of reinsertion and get a fair chance at that second chance.

8.5" x 11" | Pencil on paper

My name is David Cotto, but everyone calls me “Wolf”. I’m 31 years old and a Capricorn. I am Italian and Puerto Rican and was born and raised in the heart of Bensonhurst-Brooklyn, New York. Art was my first love at a very young age, and since then, I have improved my talents in a few forms including sketch (portrait), tattoo (both inside and on the outside), and airbrush. I am an amateur poet as well. Growing up, I didn’t realize how much Art was in my blood. I was about five when I discovered my grandfather’s sketchbooks in his storage room and was amazed at what he could do with a few pens and pencils. It soon became my biggest passion. I started drawing book covers for school, and it wasn’t long before I began creating my own portfolio hoping to be accepted into LaGuardia High School, which is a high school that specializes in Art (drawing, painting, music, etc.). But, my work took its biggest leap when I got my first tattoo at the age of 15. I started doing research and a few years later gained an apprenticeship. As my skills broadened and I began building a name for myself, life quickly got in the way. My Artwork (including my poetry) has gotten me through heartache, the loss of my little girl, depression, and especially the loss of time that I’ve had to face every day. It also helped me win the heart of the woman of my dreams. Art is so much more to me than just a hobby or even a career. It was my way of expressing myself, my outlet when no one understood. Art is the only thing I’ve ever been able to depend on. Art has fed me. Art is my life. And although incarcerated, Art saved me. .

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