"Prison industrial"

The artist is currently incarcerated in Colorado. He specializes in abstract expressionism.

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.

16" x 20" | Acrylic on canvas

I am not from Colorado but re-enlisted to transfer here from the Army. My downfall was being a misguided youth at age 22 and having an addiction problem which I couldn’t solve on my own. Despite that, I was not raised to be where I am now but I have managed to hold true to myself in here to remain who I am and not become what prison tries to make you. Chris Allen is still a person, NOT A NUMBER, and is still certainly not a product of the cognitive dysfunction that prison tries to create, en masse. Not that I am immune to these stresses but I use my art to convey what I’ve witnessed and been part of. Prison is still “no peach”, however, being noticed and felt through art helps alleviate my pain. There are still many in here coping with distress and marginalization which amplify our pain. I’d like to use art to call attention to the overlooked and marginalized masses of the prison industrial complex. .