When artist Alyse Emdur was a child, her brother spent some time in prison. Recently Emdur found many photos of him posed against a variety of painted backdrops, à la Sears Portrait Studio. The murals were painted by inmates with a flair for art and can be found in many jails. Emdur contacted prisoners via in order to compile a series of portraits to be produced as a book. The results of the project speak for themselves.

Artist: Alyse Emdur
+ alyseemdur.com

Lynette Newson



Kimberly Buntyn



R. RuffBey