20 Years In Prison Inspired These Chilling Pieces Of Art

by N/A, 9 years ago | 1 min read

Gil Batle is a self-taught artist who spent 20 years behind bars for fraud and forgery in some of America's most notoriously terrifying prisons. The things he saw while locked up are nothing a person would ever want to remember: the brutality, the violence, the pain and suffering. However, Batle has turned what many would see as 20 years of life lost into an incredibly inspiring work of art.

Now, 53 years old, his exhibition "Hatched In Prison" is featured at the Ricco Maresca Gallery in NYC.

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Batle crafted his masterful skills by tattoos while on the inside. This piece, titled "Sanctuary," carved on Ostrich eggs is a chilling look at what the prison experience is like.

So, lets now take a look at more of his works. "It's Your Fault II"

"Reception: Fresh Fish"

"Jargon"

"51/50 Dreams"

"Jamestown"

"Gang Chart II"

You can read the entire exhibition press release here to learn more about Batle's art that has been inspired by the darkest point in his life. It explains that 1 in every 100 people in the United States is currently incarserated, yet there is very little the general public knows about life inside. These works aim to change that, even if slightly.

Author and curator Norman Brosterman explains in the press release exactly what this means, artistically and insightfully:

"…the violent men he knew, the sad mistakes that sometimes led to the incarceration of regular guys, the terrifying events he witnessed, and the bonds formed under the worst conditions."

The exhibition doesn't end until January 9, 2016, so there is plenty of time to make your way to NYC to see more of Batle's exquisite works. It's sad that is comes from this time in his life, but the now Philippine Island resident should be proud that he's been able to find light in the darkness.