Prison Reimagined

Prison Reimagined features a series of portraits of U.S. presidents and writing pieces that touch on people’s experiences within the prison system. 

The project was organized by Curator and Artistic Director Cadell “Monty” Kivett from inside a correctional facility in North Carolina. About the project’s inception, Cadell states, “…I had an improbable idea: Let’s have incarcerated artists draw portraits of our presidents, then invite those subjects to see what we had drawn. This, I knew, if staged in proper context would make for powerful commentary on mass incarceration and criminal punishment in America.” Since the project’s inception in 2021, Prison Reimagined has grown to an exhibition featuring 23 written and 23 visual works. As the project expanded, Project Manager Janie Ritter and Outreach Coordinator Haley Bryant joined the team, helping push it forward.

The exhibition has traveled to several locations, and Wistariahurst is proud to be a venue to showcase Prison Reimagined. The exhibit is on view in Wistariahurst’s Great Hall, expanding the area of the museum where art installations are shown and serving as the first installation visitors will see when they enter. 

Another way to engage with this exhibit is to join our Book Discussion Group. This group meets bi-weekly, discussing topics with each other in person, and artists from Prison Reimagined calling in. Visit our calendar page for more information.