"Violet tears" - Westley Ybarra

The artist is currently incarcerated in Colorado. He specializes in portraits.

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.

9" x 12" | Pencil & colored pencils on thick glossy paper

“My art is an act of construction that attempts to purify the creation of reality that my crimes have made of my only life. When I pour myself into a piece of Bristol board, I can take any shapes that I want. Shapes that do not resemble chains, bars, or the loneliness of separation. It gives my mind and eyes a safer place to spend time than where I wake up. I cannot give voice to my regret or voice my most cherished hopes to be free one day, but I can whisper towards them in the quiet moments that I spend living inside my pencil. I draw for freedom. I draw to feel. I draw to remember, not to forget that I am alive. It works continuously bringing me back to myself while teaching me who I really am. Thank you for viewing my artwork, the only part of me that gets to leave.”.

@westleyybarra