"On top of life"- Nathaniel Huddleston

The artist is currently incarcerated in Mississippi. He specializes in politically engaged, prison life telling artworks.

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" x 10" | Fluorescent sharpies & pen on paper

This artist, born Nathaniel Arnez Huddleston, was born with gifted abilities that actually were noticed when his mother was troubled by a humming noise she was hearing in her house. She discovered the source of the noise in her third of four sons, who was humming in the kitchen near the garbage can. Over the years, and as life would grant him, he developed a natural gift for drawing (in addition to many non-family derived talents), and the first picture he ever drew was of an American toad. Just as it goes for his love of the art of music, in his own words, ‘For me, drawing is just another form of emotional expressions when words cannot be used.’ For him, art is another extension of who he is as an artist and a man. He uses it as a platform to exude an unspoken revealing of the person he wishes to introduce to anyone who questions who he is as a person, where he comes from whole-heartedly, and the direction he’s trying to go - in all hope and faithfulness. He’s said lots of times, ‘I don’t love to draw because I have to, but I do so because I want to.’ Most of his artwork can be identified by the complexity of pictures within a picture, and especially bold pen indentations and hard lines against softer, pencil smudged gray scales. To learn more about Nathaniel “Nate”, also known as Mr. President Huddleston, just look up, and bow your head only when you’re praying..

/