35 Of The Most Creative Things Prisoners Made Behind Bars And We're In Awe
Even in jail, the spirit of creativity still lingers.
Life in prison is something that you might mostly see in mystery novels and crime dramas if you come from a place or neighborhood that allows you to stay away from this part of your city. Think of The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, or Orange Is the New Black.
However, we may sometimes question: how many people actually know what it's like to live in prison? Is it just hours of staring at empty walls or trying to fit in with the other inmates?
Living behind bars might be difficult, but for some people, it has never been a reason to stop pursuing their passion—particularly their love for artisan work and art itself. Some inmates spend most of their time creating something completely beautiful and awe-inspiring, leaving you to wonder how they even ended up locked away in the first place with such creative minds.
Working on something creative while in prison is not a new concept. Some shows and documentaries have covered the work of inmates who have made beautiful quilts and other art to sell while they spend their time locked away.
Some do this as community service, while others do it to help themselves cope with the passing time. It's even wonderful to think that some of these creations were made from discarded materials or items that were only available to them.
Check out some of their wholesomely creative works below!
1. Picture frames made out of chip bags
dickdownchickens2. Hms St George model made by prisoners of war
Tzuvembi3. Hand-crafted Mah-Jong set
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4. Miniature piano made out of cardboard, rolled paper, craft paint, bed sheets, and clear-coated floor wax
nesheelahs
5. An electric guitar called "Lady," built by a prisoner in a state prison in Pennsylvania
chicametipo
6. When inmates bugged the guards' room to listen for cell shakedowns
KarmaPharmacy
7. The Convict Cookbook from the Washington State Penitentiary
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8. Paper mache heads made by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin as they escaped from Alcatraz Prison
flysoup84
9. Beautiful chess pieces made in prison
shyter351
10. A tattoo gun
Gvazeky
11. Table made out of ramen noodles and masking tape
Jamesvaughan711
12. Dice made out of toilet paper
definetlynotfbi
13. Celluloid Bakelite ring
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14. Tin can grill
Gvazeky
15. Hand-painted cards
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16. Roses made of Jolly Ranchers
VlClOUSLY
17. This Brazilian prisoner dug an escape tunnel for five years...only to burst out of the guard room.
NarcosdaMouraria
18. Harley motorcycle sculpture
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19. Salvador Dalí art on prison linen
brownberet45
20. Art from prison made by Liv Bao Jin, which he created and sold to pay his bills.
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21. "The Last Supper" on a jailhouse door
Glittering_Concern
22. Dumbbell made of old batteries
Gvazeky
23. An inmate was asked to draw his own interpretation of the prison system while only given a blue pen. He made sure to color his work by melting Skittles and M&Ms.
gendarme_
24. Pokémon cards made in prison
mysticwelsh
25. Toy dachshund made by a prisoner of war in Bristol
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26. Made by a prisoner in Angola
Itsme_dandelion
27. This inmate knitted a hat for a cat he was given as part of a rehabilitation scheme
log00
28. Carved using only a spoon
gbrook00
29. Lamp made from popsicle sticks
widdidam
30. A soap sculpture of a guard's face made by a prisoner in Brazil
NarcosdaMouraria
31. Bleach soap carved using a plastic spoon and an empty Bic pen
tacollama82
32. Makeshift flashlight made by a prisoner
Gvazeky
33. Flip flops with a hidden phone
KarmaPharmacy
34. Chess made out of toilet paper, dried bread, and shoe paste
topher181
35. Trained cockroaches smuggling cigarettes into prison cells in June 1938
Gvazeky
You can keep anyone in a cell, but there is always an artist inside that can't be tamed, and these photos certainly prove it. Even if they may have been convicted of something morbid, it's always enlightening to see their beautiful works that have been cleverly made within their cells.
Comment with your thoughts or share this article with all your family and friends to see!
