Prison and art seem like an unlikely combination, but for Death Row inmate William Noguera, artistic expression has been a necessary source of healing and rehabilitation. Noguera, who has been a prisoner at the notorious San Quentin Prison since 1988, first tried his hand at art when he spent 27 days in solitary confinement and took to drawing on the walls of his tiny cell to kill time and combat loneliness. The result of his creative awakening is magnificent artwork that has a photo-realistic quality. Although he has no formal training, Noguera produces intricate pieces by using the sophisticated method of pointillism—made famous by artists like Roy Lichtenstein—in which larger images are created through a series of miniscule dots or pixillation. With help from the Institute for Unpopular Culture, an organization that helps to promote artists like Noguera who are on the societal margins, the inmate/artist's work will be on display Wednesday, July 18, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for one night only along with a screening of the documentary Ghost in the Material about his life. Come experience the unique artistic vision of William Noguera, a man whose shadowy renderings match a life that’s overshadowed by his imprisonment.

 

William Noguera a.k.a “The Escape Artist” Solo Exhibit
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission St, 415-978-2787
Wednesday, July 18, 6:30 p.m. till 10 p.m.