A PERETZ FOUNDATION Exhibition
On March 23, 2025, the PERETZ FOUNDATION proudly hosted the opening reception of Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center—a deeply moving evening that blended art, justice, and human resilience.
The exhibition features 23 photorealistic ceramic busts by acclaimed artist Becky Gottsegen, each representing an individual wrongfully incarcerated in Louisiana. These powerful sculptures are more than portraits—they are monuments to survival, dignity, and the enduring spirit of those who have faced injustice.
Voices of Redemption
Many of the exonerees were present, sharing their personal stories of pain, perseverance, and hope. Their testimonies sparked profound conversations about the flaws in our justice system and the urgent need for reform.
We were honored to welcome Jee Park, Executive Director of Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO), whose tireless advocacy helped secure the freedom of many featured individuals. Her words reminded us that justice is not just a legal concept—it’s a moral imperative.
🎨 Art as Advocacy
The chilling reality of wrongful convictions casts a long shadow over the American justice system. Thousands of individuals have spent years, even decades, behind bars for crimes they did not commit, their lives unjustly stolen, their voices often unheard. Yet, in the face of such profound injustice, a powerful movement has emerged: Exonerated: Honoring the Wrongfully Convicted Through Art. This initiative transforms abstract statistics into tangible, human stories, using the universal language of art to advocate for justice, dismantle stigma, and offer a path to healing for those most deeply harmed.
At its core, “Exonerated” is about humanization. The criminal justice system, by its very nature, often strips individuals of their identity, reducing them to case numbers and legal terms. Artists, however, possess a unique ability to restore that humanity. By depicting the faces, stories, and experiences of exonerees, they force us to confront the devastating personal toll of systemic failures.
One of the most impactful contemporary projects under this banner is led by sculptor Becky Gottsegen. Her “Exonerated” sculpture series began with a single portrait of Jerome Morgan, who endured 20 years of wrongful imprisonment. This initial work blossomed into a profound collection of 23 busts, each representing a man who collectively lost over 700 years to wrongful convictions. Gottsegen’s artistic choice to create replicas for exhibition while gifting the originals to the exonerees themselves underscores the project’s deep respect and restorative intent. These aren’t just art pieces; they are affirmations of existence, dignity, and survival.
This event was made possible through the generous support of Tricia Day & Joe Simmons, Mary Ann Sternberg, and Winifred & Kevin Reilly. We thank them for standing with us in this mission.
These diverse artistic expressions, often created in collaboration with organizations like the Innocence Project, serve multiple critical functions. Firstly, they help dismantle the pervasive stigma associated with incarceration. By presenting exonerees as resilient survivors, artists challenge preconceived notions and foster empathy within the public. Secondly, they are powerful vehicles for advocacy, drawing attention to the urgent need for criminal justice reform and legal safeguards.
Perhaps most importantly, “Exonerated: Honoring the Wrongfully Convicted Through Art” offers a profound sense of healing. For individuals who have been marginalized, forgotten, and silenced by the system, seeing their stories validated and honored in a public sphere can be transformative. It’s a powerful acknowledgment of their suffering and a testament to their strength.
In a society grappling with the complexities of justice, art emerges as a crucial bridge—connecting the raw pain of individual experience with the broader imperative for systemic change. The “Exonerated” movement reminds us that every wrongful conviction represents a human tragedy, and through the power of creative expression, we can honor the lost years, amplify unheard voices, and strive towards a future where justice truly serves all.
