The Eastern Star Gallery is proud to present our first show of the year, “INCAPTIVITY”, featuring the work of Los Angeles-based artist Fulton Leroy Washington, or “Mr. Wash.” With a career spanning over 25 years, Washington’s work has been more recently featured in Black American Portraits at LACMA, the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. 2020, and Shattered Glass at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery. This show will exhibit eleven signed limited-edition prints from Washington’s “INCAPTIVITY” series, all created from 1996-2016 while Washington was wrongfully incarcerated. All prints will be for sale, with the proceeds going to Washington’s non-profit, Help Us Help Wash 501c3. 

Fulton Leroy Washington is a self-taught artist who began his decades-long career in 1997 when he was wrongfully convicted of a non-violent drug offense and sentenced to life without parole. Painting his fellow inmates, Washington explored their vulnerabilities and dreams through his photorealistic style, depicting them not as prisoners, but as civilians in the outside world. In painting about his own experience as a prisoner, in 2013 Washington created Emancipation Proclamation, in which President Obama is shown discussing his clemency papers. This piece proved to be self-fulfilling, as President Obama commuted Washington’s sentence in 2016, prompting his release. Since his release, Washington’s career has skyrocketed, and his work is now displayed across galleries and museums.  All proceeds from the evening’s fundraiser will go to Washington’s non-profit organization, Help Us Help Wash 501c3, helping fund the renovation of the Art by Wash building in Compton, California.

“INCAPTIVITY” opens on October 4, 2023, and will be on view until January 19, 2024. We welcome you to join us for the opening celebration on October 4th from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and Mr. Washington will be joining us for a Q&A.

You can view more of Fulton Leroy Washington’s work at www.artbywash.com/.