Detroit artist Richard Phillips started painting while in prison with a mail order watercolor set: landscapes, portraits of famous people, jazz musicians, and more, eventually creating over 400 paintings.
Arrested in 1971 for a murder he didn’t commit, Phillips was in prison for 46 years. Creating art enabled him to persist and deal with the injustice of his situation. “I didn’t actually think I’d ever be free again. This art is what I did to stay sane,” Phillips said. “I could get off into one of my paintings and just be in there for hours.” Today, collectors and viewers alike appreciate the beauty he created throughout those long decades.
Part of the Kalamazoo Art League Lecture Series
This event is a rescheduled presentation and will be free and open to the public. No registration required.