In the United States, we live within a system of mass incarceration—a framework that disproportionately impacts society’s most vulnerable individuals and communities.

This exhibition, presented by Kimball Art Center in collaboration with the Center for Art and Advocacy, features work by The Center’s founder and a selection of its artist fellows—all of whom have been directly impacted by the carceral system. 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.