"Untitled" - Reid Kalani Butler

The artist was previously incarcerated in California. He specializes in pen on linen.

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.

12" x 20" | Pen on linen

My name is Reid Butler. I have considered myself an artist since I was incarcerated in 2017. I only realized I could be a natural artist until I took an IQ test and found my highest scores were in spacing, perspective, and depth awareness. Art is any form of expression into a finished product: a drawing, sculpture, carving, painting or anything the artist desires. I was always a creative person and I struggle to put my energy into something positive. I find peace in creating something out of nothing. I enjoy the subtle messages, the hidden subliminal. I enjoy the beauty, the detail, the expression. I even consider this page art of the words with its flaws. Everybody is an artist, and practice into skill beats talent every time. So, practice! That’s what I’ve done, cross-hatching, dot-by-dot, grayscale, paper, sheets, pens, pencils. Art is an expression from a mind-opening up to its colors and spilling those colors into or onto whatever..

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