The award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Jesse Krimes, known for work centered around criminal and racial justice, will be bringing a new mural to Philadelphia’s Spring Arts District this month. 

The mural, titled ‘Riverside,’ will be installed on the north tower of 990 Spring Garden Street, a location that has hosted several public art projects and events throughout the years, thanks to an ongoing partnership between Mural Arts and Arts + Crafts Holdings, the developer behind the Spring Arts District.

A public dedication event of the completed project will be held at Triple Bottom Brewing (915 Spring Garden St.) on Thursday, May 28, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

‘Riverside’ is one of Krimes’ inimitable ‘Elegy Quilts,’ referencing memories of incarcerated people’s homes or other safe spaces, and incorporating images that represent the constancy of state surveillance in their lives. The design comes from a series of workshops held with graduates of Mural Arts’ Restorative Justice reentry programs. These young adults now work as the Mural Arts Rec Crew to revitalize community spaces and assist with mural installations at recreational centers throughout Philadelphia.

Each Rec Crew workshop participant reflected on their own lived experiences to create personal collages, which Krimes then synthesized into a single quilt design to amplify the program participants’ voices and their visions.

“This work extends the ‘Elegy Quilt’ series into a collective, aspirational form shaped by young people directly impacted by incarceration,” said Krimes. “Shifting from memory to imagination, the process creates space to envision who they are becoming. ‘Riverside’ brings these visions together into a shared image that insists on presence, dignity, and the possibility of a different future.”

The physical ‘Riverside’ quilt, constructed from vintage fabric and clothing worn by incarcerated individuals, will be the centerpiece of ‘Jesse Krimes: Elegy Quilts,’ a new exhibition in partnership between Mural Arts and The Fabric Workshop and Museum.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Mural Arts to present this vital body of work by Jesse Krimes, whose voice brings compassion and urgency to issues of incarceration and reintegration,” said Kelly Shindler, FWM’s Executive Director and curator of the exhibition. “As an organization devoted to both collaboration and the creative process, FWM is delighted to uplift his practice of engaging a broad community of artists whose lives have also been impacted by incarceration. Further, Krimes’ commitment to craft traditions rooted in community storytelling will invite audiences to consider how collective histories are forged and remembered.”

While serving a six-year prison sentence, Krimes produced and smuggled out numerous bodies of work, established art programs, and co-created artist collectives. He is the founder and director of the Center for Art & Advocacy, the first national organization that’s dedicated to supporting justice-impacted creatives.

His work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, and the International Red Cross Museum, and he is an Emmy Award-winner for his documentary ‘Art and Krimes by Krimes.’

Krimes has also received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the Rauschenberg Foundation, Creative Capital, and the Art for Justice Fund. His work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Kadist Foundation, Bunker Artspace, and the Agnes Gund Collection. He successfully led a class-action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for charging formerly incarcerated people predatory fees after their release from prison. 

“Jesse Krimes’ work reminds us that everyone deserves safety, security, and dignity, no matter their circumstances,” said Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “This particular project has been incredibly meaningful for everyone involved, especially our young Restorative Justice program participants, who have benefitted from Jesse’s mentorship. We are grateful to our partners at The Fabric Workshop and Museum and Arts + Crafts Holdings for working with us to bring Jesse’s artistic vision and lived experience to a broader audience here in Philadelphia.”

Mural Arts will also offer a special restorative justice-themed walking tour this June to view murals by Krimes and other artists, and a visit to the ‘Elegy Quilts’ exhibition. Visit muralarts.org/tours to learn more about and to purchase tickets. Additional public programming will be announced.

The Fabric Workshop and Museum is free to visit with a suggested donation of $10. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 

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Keywords

Philadelphia,

Jesse Krimes,

Mural Arts Philadelphia,

Spring Arts District,

public art,

murals,

Fabric Workshop and Museum,

criminal justice art,

Philadelphia events,

art exhibition