Art auctions often make headlines for their sky-high prices, from $98,000 for the Mona Lisa’s annual check-up to a staggering $120,000 for Maurizio Cattelan’s banana taped to a wall. For Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, however, these figures took on a different meaning. As he shared with Art & Object, “When I see art on TV, I see artists selling paintings for $30,000. And I think, ‘I’m in prison with people who create better art than that.’”
Thomas had the opportunity to showcase this talent with the exhibition Meet Us Quickly: Painting for Justice from Prison, currently on view at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). This digital exhibit and auction features work by twelve formerly and currently incarcerated artists, primarily from San Quentin prison.
The project was created in partnership with MoAD and Prison Renaissance, a non-profit co-founded by Thomas. Prison Renaissance is a unique initiative that empowers currently and formerly incarcerated individuals by offering creative programs in art, dance, writing, and more—free from the constraints of prison administration. Emile DeWeaver, co-founder and chairman of the organization, emphasized that their programs are designed to serve the needs of incarcerated people without interference from outside institutions.
Thomas personally recruited the artists through San Quentin’s Arts in Corrections program and set a minimum bid for each piece, ranging from $100 to $1,500. The works, which encompass a range of media and styles, include political cartoons by O. Smith, pointillist portraits by Gary Harrell, and bright acrylic abstractions by Tafka Clark Rockefeller, inspired by constructivism.
A key difference between this auction and typical commercial ones is the distribution of proceeds. The artists received 85% of the sale price, with 15% going to Prison Renaissance. This setup stood in stark contrast to conventional art auctions, where the auction house and sellers, rather than the artists, reap the financial rewards. Thomas explained the importance of this model: “When you’re in prison, you’re not allowed to make money from your art. Instead, people donate it to nonprofits, and they sell it for a fraction of its worth. I noticed that even at those low prices, the art always sells out immediately.”
For Antwan “Banks” Williams, a former San Quentin inmate and co-creator of the Ear Hustle podcast, having control over his work’s sale was especially significant. Williams, who was released in 2019, recalled how visitors to San Quentin before the pandemic often treated incarcerated individuals as exhibits, a feeling he described as degrading. The exhibition and auction, he hoped, would offer a more respectful way for the world to view and value incarcerated artists as people, rather than as curiosities.
Though the shift to an online format due to the pandemic was a major setback, DeWeaver was encouraged by the auction’s success. “We sold four pieces from three artists, and I consider that a huge win,” he shared. “Having served twenty-one years in prison, I’ve never seen an incarcerated person get compensated for their art by a nonprofit before.”
The auction has already had a meaningful impact on the artists. Gary Harrell, whose painting sold for a significant amount, was able to receive the price he had set for his work, which provided much-needed financial support. DeWeaver noted, “Incarcerated individuals have additional burdens compared to others, and this auction will help ease some of that for Gary.”
For Thomas, the ultimate goal is simple but profound: “I hope our art brings joy and smiles to people, especially considering that, years ago, we were causing pain. I want our work to touch the world in a way that moves people.”
