Our Mission is to support and exhibit art by incarcerated individuals to promote dialogue on ways to: Prevent Crime, Reduce levels of incarceration. and Find effective, humane ways to improve the criminal justice system.
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Out of Darkness – Into the Light
Daniel Gwynn was exonerated and ordered to be released on February 28, 2024 by Judge McDermott after a hearing where the Commonwealth and Defense Team recommended that charges against him be dismissed.
ADA David Napiorski and Mr. Gwynn’s attorneys, Karl Schwartz, and Gretchen Engel, agreed that a staggering amount of evidence, which would have benefited Daniel’s case, had been withheld by the Prosecution from the Defense. Police files also revealed that Daniel’s photo was not included in the initial photo array of suspects. The evidence showed that most likely another man had committed the crime.
Daniel Gwynn endured decades on death row in PA, most of that time in solitary confinement, for a crime he did not commit. He documented his experience and declared his innocence in his art. Daniel’s art is his call to the world from the abyss of death row to tell his story, his plight, and his persistent journey to obtain justice despite an avalanche of obstacles.
Daniel was released from Phoenix SCI on Feb. 28, 2024, shortly after 5pm. There to meet him were his attorneys, Karl Schwartz and Gretchen Engel, a previous attorney, Jim Moreno, and AfJ Director, Ann Marie Kirk.
Innocent: The Truth Not Being Told was exhibited by Art for Justice (AfJ), in partnership with the Johnson House Historic Site’s Center for Social Justice, in the lobby of the Germantown Mennonite Church, May 25 – June 25, 2024. On June 15 during the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival, 2024 AfJ featured a presentation with speakers, Chester Hollman III, Eddie Ramirez, Muti Ajamu-Osagboro, and Daniel Gwynn – each of whom was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted and experienced long-term incarceration in PA. The community gathered to hear each man talk about the injustice of his conviction, his lengthy fight for freedom in a deeply flawed legal system, and his endurance of harsh, dehumanizing prison conditions. Art for Justice is grateful to Chester Hollman for sponsoring the exhibit.
Live Stream Event:
https://youtube.com/live/AW7AHGC59wk?feature=share
CNBC Event Coverage: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-germantown-mennonite-johnson-house-juneteenth-art-for-justice/
Chester Hollman III, Daniel Gwynn, and Muti Ajamu-Osagboro
PAINTINGS ON EXHIBIT AT THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL
Eduard Ramirez Exonerated on November 30, 2023
RECENT EXHIBITS
Art for Justice Presentation at Arcadia University
The Art for Justice (AfJ) Presentation, Art Display, and Interactive Experience were held at Arcadia University on November 14, 2023. Professor Kevin Review extended an invitation to AfJ to showcase art created by individuals who have faced injustice, aiming to spark discussions about these injustices and the ongoing efforts to rectify them. The event was primarily organized for Professor Review's class, "Wrongful Convictions and Exonerations," as well as other students at Arcadia.
Muti Ajamu-Osagboro was chosen as the speaker for the event. Muti shared his personal experience of being sentenced to life imprisonment as a child and enduring 42 years of incarceration for a crime he claims he did not commit. AfJ also presented artworks by Chrles Lawson (Zafir), Daniel Gwynn, Eduard Ramirez, Rene Ortiz, and George Lopez.
Portraits of Philadelphia
Works by Charles Zafir Lawson
Co-Founder of Art for Justice
Charles Zafir Lawson, serving life without parole at Phoenix SCI in PA, is a self – taught artist. Mr. Lawson began to paint as a way to save his sanity and to call out the injustice and oppression in the criminal justice system. Charles Lawson’s thought provoking, inspirational art has been exhibited by AfJ at over 100 venues and events. Many of the murals in Philadelphia created by the Mural Arts Program were painted by individuals incarcerated at Graterford Prison – Charles Lawson’s portraiture is seen in the faces in some of these murals. Mr. Lawson is also to Co-Creator of the Road Map for Life Workshops for Youth.
WEB DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT BY
PRISONER ART FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
AFJ Shows the humanity behind bars.
Brings awareness to systemic flaws in the criminal justice system. Seeks solutions to eliminate injustice.
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