Brush with the law: Prisoners are selling the artwork they create while behind bars
PRISONERS are making Monet out of art they are creating behind bars.
There are 245 different pieces of art at the exhibition
This colourful picture of David Bowie and Big Ben-like fantasy sculpture are part of a 245-strong exhibition on display at London’s Southbank Centre.
The We Are All Human show, run by prison arts charity the Koestler Trust, attracted nearly 7,000 entries.
Many in the final shortlist, chosen by 58-year-old poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah, who served time for burglary in the 1970s, are for sale at prices of up to £300.
Half of the money goes to the inmate with the rest split between the charity and victim support.
Koestler chief executive Sally Taylor said: “We aim to help change the way the public think about offenders by opening their eyes to what talent sits behind the prison walls.”
The charity does not reveal the full name of the artists or their crimes, but ex-offenders explained how art had helped turn their lives around.
The prisoner receives half the money while the rest is donated to charity
Expressing myself artistically means I am not able to fall back into old patterns
One, Perry, 43, from Wimbledon, south London, worked in IT before spending a year and a half in Brixton prison.
He was released last year. He said: “Art lets you forget where you are for a couple of hours.
"Some of the toughest blokes make the most intricate, small and delicate things.”
Creating the art can actually encourage the prisoner to not to reoffend
Apparently some of the toughest criminals are the most creative artists
David, 29, who spent three years in Brixton, believes art can prevent criminals reoffending.
He said: “Expressing myself artistically means I am not able to fall back into old patterns of behaviour.
"Some of the toughest prisoners, a lot of the ones who are in for life, are the ones who are the best artists.”
We Are All Human is on show until November 13.