Join Kimball Art Center Friday, September 26 at 6:00 PM, for the opening reception of Gaze Into These Eyes.

In the United States, we live within a system of mass incarceration—a framework that disproportionately impacts society’s most vulnerable individuals and communities. Centered on the expressive potential of portraiture, the exhibition highlights a range of artistic approaches that confront, reclaim, and reimagine systems of representation.

From tender to raw, the artists’ intimate portrayals of self, family, and community resist or in some cases call attention to the dehumanization of incarceration. Their distinct creative visions challenge punitive systems while exploring pathways toward justice and healing often through an emphasis on community.

Portraiture remains one of the most powerful tools for human connection. It captures the complexity of subjectivity and invites viewers to see others—especially those so often unseen or intentionally hidden—with greater empathy, nuance, and care. Together, these works stand as acts of storytelling, resistance, and liberation that are helping to shape a fuller picture of the realities and impact of mass incarceration while affirming the humanity of the makers.

Featuring artwork by Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Frank Blazquez, Omari Booker, Courtney Cone, Russell Craig, Jamie Diaz, Jaiquan Fayson, Asia Johnson, Jesse Krimes, L.W.D., George Anthony Morton, Beverly Price, Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, Gary Tyler, Fulton Leroy Washington (aka Mr. Wash)

Join us for the opening reception, featuring interactive art experiences, refreshments, and a first look at this year’s final exhibition.