‘Stretched to the Limit’ by…

About this event

Stretched to the Limit, is a series of paintings reflecting on a lived experience of Britain’s prison system. These evocative pieces shine a floodlight on a prison system in crisis. Spiralling overcrowding, ever decreasing budgets, “a modern-day pandemic of substance abuse” and a rise in self-harm, the impact of which leaves lasting physical and psychological scars on those incarcerated within its walls. 

Steel Door Studios has produced a deeply moving and personal reflection on a broken prison system; each piece inviting us to confront difficult truths, and asks: who holds the power to define the prison system? Collectively, the pieces propose that we all have a responsibility to shape a system that benefits the whole of society by placing rehabilitation, well-being, and desistance from crime at its core.

As an artist, Steel Door Studios was born within the walls of incarceration, driven by a strong need to discover his authentic voice through creativity. With the support of a forward-thinking prison governor and his ever-present wife, he brought together everything needed to launch his own website: permission, technological skills, and an ever-growing growing collection of paintings and artwork. To date, he has had collaborative exhibitions at Hampshire Culture Trust, Koestler Arts at the Southbank, Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, and Coventry University. Having been successful with his fight for freedom, he has been adjusting to life in the community and has secured the position of Artist in Residence at Warwick University. ‘Stretched to the Limit’ is his first solo show.

While wishing to remain anonymous, the artist said “I'm absolutely thrilled to have the backing of the National Justice Museum in supporting this important exhibition. Throughout the commission’s execution the team have encouraged, facilitated, and engaged with the project to ensure my vision was brought to light. Gratitude to all those involved in making this project work.  Having an extensive experience of carceral environments, this exhibition is a sequence of autobiographical works designed to provide an insight into a judicial system that is fractured and no longer enables meaningful rehabilitation. By encouraging the viewer to engage with the interactive works it’s my vision that each individual will begin to understand they could in fact, play a part in the solution.”