50th Anniversary Art and Archives
CGLA Art + Archives is a public exhibition that uses art, storytelling, and the humanities to highlight CGLA's legacy transforming justice in the criminal legal system over the past 50 years. The exhibition considers the past, present, and future of CGLA’s legal aid within the context of the larger U.S. criminal legal system. Based on our decades of experience serving people negatively impacted by the criminal legal system, this new project intends to use the arts and humanities to devise strategies toward a truly just society.
Art + Archives seeks to disrupt and dismantle narratives around criminalization of poverty and racial inequity experienced within our communities. Displayed throughout the three floors of CGLA’s00 office building, the exhibition intends to create more direct pathways of advocacy, opportunity, and wellness for those negatively impacted by the system. We use storytelling and the arts to help amplify the voices and perspectives of individuals and collectives who have experienced negative engagement with the criminal legal system or criminalization of poverty, trauma, race, or ethnicity.
Take a look below to see some of the artists that CGLA is proud to support.
Vincent Boggan
Vincent Brogan is an artist specializing in oil paintings. He is the founder of the art storefront Invincible Art and he's been a freelance artist for over 30 years. Most of his original oil paintings were created during his time incarcerated, an experience he credits with broadening his creativity. He is currently expanding into other mediums, including digital art.
Arkee Chaney
Arkee Chaney re-discovered a childhood passion for art while incarcerated. Many of his pieces are inspired by African tribal art and his work provides social commentary on slavery, poverty, and mass incarceration. Since his release, Chaney has been prolific in his chosen mediums of painting and ceramics. He is committed to telling his story and bring awareness to social inequality
Delisha McKinney
Delisha currently resides on the Westside of Chicago where she creates paintings of child-like perspectives and narratives. Inspired by Bill Watterson’s comics, and the late great Dr. Seuss, Delisha defiantly does it for the kids. Her evocative imagery of children and toys speaks of those experiences hidden in the adult psyche in detail.
Jasjyot Singh Hans
Jasjyot Singh Hans is an illustrator inspired by fashion, music, and pop culture. His work, which discusses themes of body image, sexuality, and self love, has been featured by NPR, Bloomberg, and the New Yorker. He uses a variety of mediums, including paintings, screenprints, and zines, to display his bold and colorful style.
