THE UNCOUNTED: LOST IN THE LAW

This oil painting series began after I visited a maximum-security prison in Cañon City, where I met with incarcerated men to teach entrepreneurship and business strategy. What I left with, however, was something far greater—a deep, unsettling understanding of what it means to be forgotten.

One man I worked with wanted to start a food cart in the prison pods to sell fresh fruits and vegetables. While the idea itself wasn’t groundbreaking, what he told me was. He had been imprisoned at just 14 years old and, for 23 years, had not eaten a fresh berry. The thought stunned me. Something so small, so ordinary to those of us on the outside, was completely absent from his world. It made me question the balance between holding people accountable for their actions and recognizing their basic humanity. What does justice truly mean when it strips away even the simplest joys of life?

Another man I spoke with thanked me for coming, saying, "There's a reason they call us the forgotten people." But then he challenged me with a question: "Why should people outside of prison even care?" His answer was powerful—"Because 98% of prisoners are released. They become your neighbors, your grocers, your barbers. It’s in your best interest to ensure they transition back into society in a positive way, rather than returning to their old ways."

This series is a reflection of those conversations. Through layers of oil paint, raw textures, and haunting compositions, I explore the tension between incarceration and humanity, punishment and dignity, justice and compassion. The Uncounted: Lost in the Law gives voice to those we choose to erase, forcing us to confront our own biases and question what we take for granted. More than anything, this work is a reminder that transformation is possible, that second chances matter, and that the people we forget may just be the ones who change us the most.