Blood, Sweat, and Tears : Works by Russell Craig

Event Description

Closing Reception: Friday, April 20, 2018; 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is excited to have self-taught artist Russell Craig display his provocative works of art in Spring 2018. Craig makes art on court documents, prison paperwork, and discarded items to convey how art helped him overcome a tumultuous time in his life.

Craig’s artistic style and stirring imagery were developed during his seven-year incarceration. With little art materials available to him, he utilized his court papers to make his canvas. The large scale of his art is deliberate, forcing the viewer be confronted by Craig’s portraits upon entering the gallery. Whether looking at the work as a whole or analyzing the details, his pieces offer a unique perspective to a complex story and provide an opportunity to talk about today’s prison system in the United States.

Craig’s work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions. He has also worked with Mural Arts Philadelphia through their Restorative Justice program, and is a “Right of Return” fellow – a program that invests in formerly incarcerated artists to create original works of art that can further propel criminal justice reform efforts.  He continues to make work about his experiences and has been an inspiration for others who wish to use art as a means of self-expression and therapy.

Join PMG and Russell Craig for a pay-what-you-wish closing reception on Friday, April 20, from 6:00 – 9:00 PM.