‘Artists in Absentia’ was a 2016 exhibition hosted by Madison public libraries, featuring the work of inmates from Oakhill Correctional Institution. Showcasing the writing, art, music, and dramatic work of inmates, the exhibition opened on Thursday, March 3 at the Madison Public Library’s Central Branch. In collaboration with the Bubbler’s Artist-in-Residence program, ‘Artists in Absentia’ brought the art of these men out from the prison and into dialogue with the community. The project provided a public space where the humanity of those we seldom see could be reflected in creative exchange between artist and viewer.
‘Artists in Absentia’ directly addressed the importance of engaging inmates’ voices in Dane County, where we experience the most racially disproportionate incarceration rates per capita in the US.
Image: Untitled, Adam R.
Wisconsin Prison Humanities Project 