Prison Nation

At the moment 2.2 million people are incarcerated in the U.S., 3.8 million people are on probation, and 870,000 former prisoners are on parole. Most prisons and jails across the United States do not allow prisoners to have access to cameras. How can photographs visualize a reality that, for many, remains outside of view?

The voices of the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated are essential here, such as Leica photographer Joseph Rodriguez’ portraits from reentry centers in Los Angeles, as are images and artworks that address incarceration in conceptual, even abstract ways.

The Aperture magazine will release its ‘Prison Nation’ issue, addressing the unique role photography plays in creating a visual record of what Aperture describes as a ‘national crisis.’ The issue will be accompanied by the exhibition from February 7 through March 7, 2018, as well as a series of public programs at Aperture Foundation’s gallery.

For more information see Aperture Foundation