Suave Gonzalez

“In prison, humans turn into dollar signs.” Suave Gonzalez, artist

Pulitzer Prize winning social activist and self-taught muralist, artist Suave Gonzalez is recognized for his colorful and confrontational artworks that demonstrate the political power of art. Gonzalez grew up in the South Bronx,  inspired by graffiti and artists like NICER and Jean-Michel Basquiat. While serving a 31-year prison sentence, art became a coping mechanism, allowing Suave to escape the harsh realities of incarceration. Utilizing objects found  in prison, Gonzalez turned everyday objects into magnificent tools of creation and expression. Released from  prison in 2017, Suave’s art continues to explore themes of daily life in prison, including the prison-economy and  the impact of isolation.

During his sentence, Gonzalez committed to becoming a voice for the voiceless. He earned a BA from Villanova  University and worked as president of LACEO, a Latino organization that has given away 52 scholarships funded  by inmates from their own wages. The artist also helped to launch Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program with the  creation of 50 murals from inside prison for Philadelphia’s city streets. Gonzalez continues this community-based  work today through 9 different podcasts, a major film project, and full-time work as a Student Success Coach at  Community College of Philadelphia.

Suave’s collection for the group exhibition, WE ARE ALL DOING TIME, is subtitled: THE PRISON ECONOMY.  His powerful collection is an artistic depiction of two very different economies within our current American correctional system, which the artist describes as a “warehouse of millions of minorities.”  In this collection of 7 mixed-media artworks, viewers are introduced to two distinct economies: the formal correctional institution economy and the underground prison economy. The underground prison economy offers viewers an inside look at how everyday items, like toothbrushes, are transformed into illegal items, such as tattoo guns. These modified items, while commonplace outside of prison, generate thousands of dollars for inmates—often at the expense of significant risk.