Jelly Roll
Seven students incarcerated at Salt Lake Valley Youth Center were invited to choose an inspiring artist to make a portrait of. They chose American singer and songwriter Jelly Roll, who was incarcerated as a young person and went on to become a three-time CMT award winner and Grammy nominee. He’s played concerts in youth detention centers and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support at-risk youth.
This collective drawing was exhibited as part of an exhibition at the University of Utah's Gittins Gallery, along with several individual drawings.
Photo credit: Robin Pendergrast
This collective drawing was exhibited as part of an exhibition at the University of Utah's Gittins Gallery, along with several individual drawings.
Photo credit: Robin Pendergrast
Exhibition Swap
During a period when public exhibitions were temporarily paused, I facilitated an exhibition swap between two Salt Lake City area youth detention centers. Each center viewed an in-person exhibition of artworks created by students at the other.
With their cameras off, the two groups presented and discussed their artwork over Zoom, offering praise, insight, and supportive artistic commentary to their peers.
With their cameras off, the two groups presented and discussed their artwork over Zoom, offering praise, insight, and supportive artistic commentary to their peers.
The Bigger Picture
I invited nine students at the Nassau County Juvenile Detention Center to make a large-scale drawing, and after some discussion they chose to draw a still from the music video "The Bigger Picture" by Lil Baby.
One student wrote about their choice of this song for their artwork:
"The song is a powerful song because it’s about how the cops are abusing their power and they prejudge Black people, assuming they’re suspicious or violent. Lil Baby talks about how tragic George Floyd’s death is and how the system is corrupt. We should not judge people by their skin color, but by their mind. Certain cops see Black people and dehumanize us without thinking twice. They hear us say 'I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe' and keep going. The system is messed up and we need more good people to fix it."
I then submitted students' artwork to No Kids in Prison's inaugural magazine, where it was featured on the cover. Each student received a copy of the magazine.
The piece was also featured at BronxArtSpace as part of an exhibition for the anniversary of the closure of Spofford Detention Center.
One student wrote about their choice of this song for their artwork:
"The song is a powerful song because it’s about how the cops are abusing their power and they prejudge Black people, assuming they’re suspicious or violent. Lil Baby talks about how tragic George Floyd’s death is and how the system is corrupt. We should not judge people by their skin color, but by their mind. Certain cops see Black people and dehumanize us without thinking twice. They hear us say 'I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe' and keep going. The system is messed up and we need more good people to fix it."
I then submitted students' artwork to No Kids in Prison's inaugural magazine, where it was featured on the cover. Each student received a copy of the magazine.
The piece was also featured at BronxArtSpace as part of an exhibition for the anniversary of the closure of Spofford Detention Center.
Everybody Is Somebody
For my first project with students at the Nassau County Juvenile Detention Center, I invited youth to create a mural in a style they liked. “Everybody is Somebody” was conceptualized, designed, and painted by 13 youth.
Two groups of students reached consensus for a visual theme very quickly, using images from pop art and graffiti as inspiration. The two groups debated various ideas for the phrase that would accompany the mural. One student suggested “Only You Can Free Your Mind,” but others didn’t like the feeling of someone telling them about freedom while they are living in confinement.
The phrase pictured is one that students chose unanimously, but it too evoked discussion. Most students advocated for it as an imaginative, aspirational sentiment for the world, a way that they feel it should be. But one student also voiced criticism at including a phrase that doesn’t reflect the way he feels the world actually works, the way it is now, at this moment.
That student’s criticism surfaces questions about who is allowed to imagine, who is allowed to shape changes to the world we live in.
Two groups of students reached consensus for a visual theme very quickly, using images from pop art and graffiti as inspiration. The two groups debated various ideas for the phrase that would accompany the mural. One student suggested “Only You Can Free Your Mind,” but others didn’t like the feeling of someone telling them about freedom while they are living in confinement.
The phrase pictured is one that students chose unanimously, but it too evoked discussion. Most students advocated for it as an imaginative, aspirational sentiment for the world, a way that they feel it should be. But one student also voiced criticism at including a phrase that doesn’t reflect the way he feels the world actually works, the way it is now, at this moment.
That student’s criticism surfaces questions about who is allowed to imagine, who is allowed to shape changes to the world we live in.
Knicks Game 4
I invited seven youth at Horizon Juvenile Detention Center in the Bronx to create a large-scale drawing, and they chose to depict Knicks' player O.G. Anunoby's tip-in during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Anunoby scored a game-winning shot to bring the Knicks to a 107–106 victory.
Currently, I'm making efforts to get this image seen by the NBA.
Currently, I'm making efforts to get this image seen by the NBA.
Earring Sale
Once I had gotten permission for incarcerated youth in the state of Utah to sell artwork, I created a program at two different detention centers for students to design and paint their own earrings, rearview mirror ornaments, and pins.
Pieces were sold at two public sales events, and youth artists received 100% of sales through trust funds accounts created by Juvenile Justice and Youth Services in the state of Utah.
Pieces were sold at two public sales events, and youth artists received 100% of sales through trust funds accounts created by Juvenile Justice and Youth Services in the state of Utah.
