Russell Craig is a Philadelphia-based painter and portrait artist whose art often explores social and political topics. He grew up in the foster care system and spent nearly a decade in prison. He is an alumnus of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Guild program, a 2017 Right of Return Fellow, and a 2018 Art for Justice Fellow. For more about Russell’s work, see his Instagram account: @r.craig.t1.
Artist’s Statement
I was inspired by the notion that Eric Gonzalez is raising his family in the Brooklyn neighborhood where he grew up, allowing the youth in his community to see a man in a suit and tie every day. I painted an oil portrait depicting Eric this way. His upbringing and background give him a deeper understanding of the communities and crimes that make their way to his office.
