Billie Allen: Art from Death Row

Billie Allen, a Black artist on death row in the US for 23 years, uses painting to proclaim his innocence and critique the American justice system. Arrested at 19 for an armed robbery he denies involvement in, Allen has been in solitary confinement since age 20, allowed only one hour of outdoor time and one visitor at a time. His figurative series 'America' channels pain, frustration, and hope, aiming to make society 'see his innocence.' The US has the world's largest prison population; in 2018, Black men made up 34% of male inmates. As of early 2020, 2,620 people were on death row, with 55 federal prisoners—over 57% Black or Latino. After a moratorium, the Trump administration resumed federal executions in July 2019; seven were carried out in 2020. A University of Michigan study estimates at least 4% of death row inmates may be innocent. The exhibition 'Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration' at MoMA PS1 features art by incarcerated individuals, including those like Allen.