MoCA\CT Presents "Inside/Outside" Exploring Art and Incarceration

WESTPORT, CT, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Museum of Contemporary Art \ Connecticut (MoCA\CT) is set to present a powerful exhibition titled "Inside/Outside," which explores the physical and emotional walls of incarceration through the lens of art, identity, and the human experience. The exhibition, running from December 5, 2026, to March 14, 2027, will feature three interconnected exhibitions: Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts, the CPA Prison Arts Annual Show, and Veronica May Clark: Singing Inside a Glass of Water.

Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts, curated by Kelly Shindler, Executive Director of The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) in Philadelphia, showcases the work of a Pennsylvania-based artist who has been creating quilts since 2020. Krimes, who served a six-year federal prison sentence, uses donated clothing and textiles from currently and formerly incarcerated individuals to create intricate quilts. These quilts, titled after U.S. prisons, serve as communal acts of preservation, carrying narratives of loss, resilience, and connection. Krimes’ own story, which includes founding the Center for Art and Advocacy and leading a class-action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, paints a portrait of resilience and advocacy.

The CPA Prison Arts Annual Show, curated by Jeffrey Greene, reflects the year-round commitment of CPA staff, participating artists, and artists’ families. The exhibition will display more than 700 works by over 150 artists currently incarcerated in Connecticut prisons. Additionally, an audio and video installation will feature the work of 8-12 formerly incarcerated artists, immersing visitors in participating artists’ voices. Greene, who has served as Program Manager of the Prison Arts Program since 1991, has worked with over 400 incarcerated artists and over 50 returning “alumni” artists each year. The Prison Arts Program, initiated in 1978, encourages personal, evolving artistic practices that build purpose, creativity, self-discipline, and communication skills.

Veronica May Clark, who is serving a 75-year sentence, devotes considerable time to mastering the limited art-making materials available in prison. Her practice has evolved from analytical, text-based drawings on notebook paper documenting the sensory specifics of incarceration into sophisticated, hand-woven abstractions. Clark’s works, deconstructed and reassembled from fashion magazines and paper bags, create painterly depth that records persistence and identity.

Through these exhibitions and accompanying programs, MoCA\CT aims to bridge the divide between those inside prison walls and the broader public, promoting empathy and healing. The Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, December 5, from 4-6 PM, inviting visitors to encounter artists through their work, perspectives, and voices rather than their sentences.

The "Inside/Outside" exhibition and its programs will run from December 5, 2026, to March 14, 2027, offering a profound exploration of the human experience within the confines of incarceration.