Eddie Ramirez

“There is nothing I’ve lost that can’t be found.”  Eddie Ramirez, artist

Eddie Ramirez is a casualty of the criminal justice system, having been wrongfully convicted and serving 28 years before being vindicated in November 2023 with the help of the PA Innocence Project. For Eddie, art was a saving grace during his time in prison: “My imagination was the music and the color of my everyday life. Graffiti, hip hop, my culture—these are the threads that kept me tethered to a world I had been violently ripped from.” Using a rag, a toothbrush, and old sneakers instead of a canvas, he created his art with whatever tools were available. His art reflects his experiences in prison and the transition to life outside of incarceration, serving as a representation of the injustices perpetuated by the American criminal justice system. Now back in Philadelphia, Eddie continues to create art and dedicates his time to examining and correcting wrongful convictions with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.