The Marshall Project

How This Prison Collaborated on a Larger-Than-Life Work of Art

French artist JR worked with California prisoners to create his latest installation.

For three days in October, giant faces were visible from the air over the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, California. They were portraits of 48 currently or formerly incarcerated people, correctional officers and victims of crimes, assembled in a large-scale mural made up of paper strips. A few days later the mural was gone,

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Marshall Project

The Marshall Project5 min readAmerican Government
Biden Will Try to Unmake Trump's Immigration Agenda. It Won't Be Easy
In one beating, the woman from El Salvador told the immigration judge, her boyfriend’s punches disfigured her jaw and knocked out two front teeth. After raping her, he forced her to have his name tattooed in jagged letters on her back, boasting that
The Marshall Project2 min readCrime & Violence
Subjects To Debate
News Inside knows that political debates are always taking place behind the wall, even after the presidential election. That’s why Issue 6 is full of information that will help folks inside strengt...
The Marshall Project4 min readCrime & Violence
“Law and Order” Still Reigns in State Supreme Court Elections
A Nevada state supreme court candidate was one of very few nationwide to run on a message of reform. Most campaigns leaned on “tough on crime” strategy yet again.

Related Books & Audiobooks