Self-taught, Michigan based artist, Christopher Levitt, works in graphite, colored pencil, and acrylic paint. He began his practice in 2010 while serving a life sentence in Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). From 2021-24, Levitt was featured in the University of Michigan's Prison Creative Arts Project for incarcerated artists (PCAP). He received an honorable mention in the 25th annual PCAP Art Exhibition in 2021. In 2023 Levitt's piece, “Hard Rock”, won first place in Colorado State University Pueblo's (CSUP) Black History Month Student Art Show and in 2023 the sale of his artwork helped to raise money for CSUP’s incarcerated students at the first annual CSUP Levitt Fund Scholarship art exhibit and fundraiser. In addition to his work as an artist, Levitt is a mentor to other inmates who want to learn how to paint. He also continues to work with CSUP to expand inmates' access to art and art education through the Levitt fund scholarship.
Christopher Levitt
Artist Statement
Christopher A. Levitt
As an incarcerated artist, I create art that exposes the injustices by the American Criminal Justice system against those who populate its so-called correctional institutions. In this effort, each of my paintings brings to light unique narratives that would otherwise remain unseen behind the fences and concrete walls that conceal state propagated violence, rape, drug trafficking and forced labor. In the creation of these paintings, I utilize a hybrid style that emphasizes the real but abstract nature of the incarcerable experience to create images that are confrontational, provocative, defiant and telling.
To capture the raw emotion of these unique narratives, I ask my fellow incarcerated brothers, trans sisters, and non-gender conforming comrades to tell me their stories as I paint. As they speak, my hands go to work giving their words form through the manipulation of acrylic paintings with brush, pallet knife and fingers. I depict them as solitary figures and use body language and nonverbal signaling to give voice to their individual stories. I also invite them to take part in the creative process. I encourage those I paint to pick up a brush, palette knife, or finger in protest for their own right to freely express themselves creatively and to leave their mark on my paintings. My goal here is to help them feel human in an inhuman place by validating their feelings and experiences through creative expression.
As an incarcerated artist, I also create art to help expand incarcerated persons’ access to art and art education through such initiatives as The Levitt Fund. This is a scholarship created by me in partnership with CSU Pueblo that helps provide a safe, encouraging space for incarcerated students to find, exercise, and develop their creative selves. This scholarship is available to incarcerated persons through CSU Pueblo’s Independent Studies. This scholarship is funded in part by proceeds raised through the sale of my art.