"Pandora's box" - Chris Dankovitch

The artist is currently incarcerated in Maryland. He specializes in leather work.

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" | Pen on leather

“My name is Chris, and I started learning about art after I came to prison at age 15, back in 2005. Drawing sketches started as a way to take my mind out of the prison environment, and those sketches were very rough at first. As I improved, I started drawing on the envelopes and letters I’d send to my family, my friends, and other people in my life, in an attempt to make them smile. Soon, I sent Christmas cards to those who sent me some from out there. I earned money on the side here in prison making cards for others too, and after a year or two, a friend saw these and encouraged me to borrow his paints and try my hand at painting. Painting led to pastels and leather, and...tattooing. An art class orchestrated in the prison I was at by the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project taught me about art history, and provided my first outlet to display my artwork at one of their art shows. As I got better, my confidence did as well, and also gave me the ability to give back to others. Art has helped me get through some very hard times, and has brought me to this point today. Almost all of my art is inspired by my own life and my dreams (both for the future, and the ones I see when I close my eyes), and it helps me create new dreams in its creation.”.

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