How an artist created monumental installations using only prison-issued soap and newspaper
In short: Jesse Krimes transformed his six-year incarceration into a period of profound creative output. This video explores how he bypassed the lack of traditional art supplies to challenge systemic identification methods, offering a look at his exhibition currently on display at The Met.
During his six-year incarceration, Jesse Krimes developed a unique artistic process using unconventional materials like hair gel, playing cards, newspaper, and prison-issued soap. His work, featured in the exhibition 'Jesse Krimes: Corrections' at The Met until July 13, 2025, aims to disrupt how media photographs circulate and influence public perception.
The exhibition places Krimes’s installations in conversation with the work of Bertillon, the pioneer of the mug shot system that combined anthropomorphic measurements with photography. By juxtaposing these works, Krimes interrogates the supposed neutrality of identification systems and the social imbalances they perpetuate. Beyond his own practice, Krimes founded the Center for Art and Advocacy to support the creative potential of formerly incarcerated individuals.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Meet the Artist — Jesse Krimes: Corrections | Met Exhibitions
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