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5 Ways The Center For Art And Advocacy Is Reshaping The Global Art World And Criminal Justice Reform

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The Center for Art and Advocacy (The Center) is rapidly establishing itself as a pivotal institution in the contemporary art landscape, not just as a gallery space but as a powerful engine for social change and equity. Established in 2022, The Center operates with a clear and urgent mission: to provide a direct path to sustainability and professional opportunity for artists who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system. As of late 2025, its influence is expanding, transitioning from a community-based organization into a recognized institution that is actively reshaping the narrative around mass incarceration through the lens of creative practice. This Brooklyn-based organization, co-founded by two formerly incarcerated artists, is more than just an exhibition space; it is a critical civic infrastructure dedicated to demonstrating the transformative power of art. By focusing on justice-impacted creatives working across disciplines—including film, photography, painting, and multimedia—The Center is challenging traditional art world barriers and fostering a new generation of artistic advocates.

The Visionary Founder: Jesse Krimes Biography and Profile

The founding of the Center for Art and Advocacy is inextricably linked to the life and work of its co-founder, Jesse Krimes. His journey from incarceration to becoming a nationally recognized multimedia artist, curator, and activist provides the philosophical and practical foundation for The Center's mission.
  • Name: Jesse Krimes
  • Born: 1982 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Location: Philadelphia-based
  • Primary Roles: Artist, Curator, Educator, Activist, and Founder of The Center for Art & Advocacy and Right of Return USA.
  • Artistic Focus: Krimes is a multimedia artist whose work explores societal mechanisms of power and control, with a particular focus on criminal and racial justice in the United States.
  • Key Works: His work often incorporates materials gathered during his own period of incarceration, transforming mundane objects into powerful statements about the US prison-industrial complex.
  • Activism: He is a leading voice in the movement to dismantle the prison-industrial complex through artistic and curatorial practice.
  • Co-Founding: Krimes co-founded the original Right of Return USA fellowship in 2017 with artist Russell Craig, which later evolved into the core program of The Center.
Krimes's personal experience of being formerly incarcerated gives The Center an authenticity and drive that resonates with its community. His work champions the belief that the unique creative vision of justice-impacted artists is essential for advancing social change and democratic participation.

The Center's Flagship Program: The Fellowship (Formerly Right of Return)

The cornerstone of The Center for Art and Advocacy's work is its highly competitive annual Fellowship program, which was formerly known as the Right of Return Fellowship. This initiative is the first national fellowship dedicated to supporting artists who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, providing them with critical resources to advance their careers and their advocacy work. The Fellowship is designed to remove the systemic barriers—such as lack of professional networks, funding, and exhibition opportunities—that disproportionately affect formerly incarcerated creatives. The program provides substantial funding, mentorship, and a platform for fellows to develop ambitious projects that bridge creative practice with direct advocacy.

Spotlight on Current Fellows and Their Impact

The Center's selection of fellows highlights its commitment to a diverse range of artistic disciplines and advocacy goals. The announcement of the sixth class of fellows in 2024/2025 brought renewed attention to the program's powerful impact. The recent cohort of artists includes:
  • Antwan Williams: A creative working to document and critique the carceral system.
  • Gary Tyler: A prominent figure whose work and story have become synonymous with the fight against wrongful conviction and the death penalty. Tyler was awarded the 2024 Right of Return Fellowship, underscoring his transition into a powerful artistic voice.
  • George Morton: An artist whose practice often explores themes of identity, race, and the experience of re-entry.
  • Kendra Ware: A creative using her work to advocate for women impacted by incarceration.
  • Omari: An artist known for his powerful visual narratives and commitment to community organizing.
These artists, and others like them, are not merely creating art; they are building civic infrastructure, challenging public perception, and providing a powerful counter-narrative to the dehumanization often associated with the prison-industrial complex. The Center’s support allows them to shift their focus from survival to sustainability and influence.

Five Pillars of The Center's Transformative Influence

The Center for Art and Advocacy's model is groundbreaking because it integrates artistic excellence with political advocacy. Its influence can be broken down into five distinct, yet interconnected, areas that are driving significant change in both the art world and the criminal justice system.

1. Establishing Economic and Professional Equity

The Center’s primary goal is to ensure economic and professional sustainability for justice-impacted artists. Many formerly incarcerated individuals face extreme employment discrimination, making a sustainable career in the arts nearly impossible. The Fellowship and other programs provide not only essential funding but also professional development, curatorial support, and networking opportunities with industry leaders and funders. This direct financial and professional support is a crucial step toward achieving true equity.

2. Challenging the Narrative of Mass Incarceration

By hosting exhibitions and public programs in its 2600-square-foot Brooklyn space, The Center directly confronts the public’s perception of incarceration. The art produced by its fellows and exhibited in its gallery spaces offers intimate, complex, and humanizing perspectives on the experience of prison, re-entry, and the broader impact of systemic injustice. This artistic activism serves as a powerful tool for public education and legislative change.

3. Cultivating a New Visual Identity and Institutional Power

In a strategic move to solidify its status, The Center underwent a visual transformation, working with the London-based studio Made Thought. This new, bold visual identity signals the organization's evolution from a grassroots effort to a sophisticated, powerful institution capable of shaping the face of contemporary art. This institutionalization is vital for long-term impact and securing major funding.

4. Bridging Art and Policy Through Advocacy Initiatives

The Center actively connects its artists with policymakers and advocacy organizations. The work created by the fellows is often used in campaigns to advance specific criminal justice reform goals, such as ending mandatory minimum sentencing or advocating for better re-entry programs. This practical application of art as a direct advocacy tool is a key differentiator, demonstrating that creative practice can be a form of political power.

5. Building a Pipeline for Future Artistic Leaders

Beyond the current cohort, The Center is focused on the future. The annual Fellowship application cycle, with its recent 2026 application period opening in September 2025, ensures a continuous pipeline of emerging and established justice-impacted artists. Furthermore, the organization’s mentorship and training programs are designed to cultivate the curatorial and leadership skills necessary for these artists to become the next generation of institutional leaders and artistic advocates, solidifying a lasting legacy of change. The Center for Art and Advocacy, as a successor project to the six-year Art for Justice Fund (A4J), represents the culmination of years of work dedicated to ending mass incarceration. Its continued growth and the success of its fellows, such as Gary Tyler's 2025 events, confirm its vital role in both the art world and the ongoing fight for criminal justice reform.
center for art and advocacy
center for art and advocacy

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