Voices Unbound

Art has the power to transcend confinement, offering a space for self-expression, resistance, and hope.

Voices Unbound presents the creative work of incarcerated women who explored visual storytelling as a way to process their experiences and articulate their dreams. Guided by Unison artists, they developed drawing skills, experimented with composition, and created storyboards that offer intimate glimpses into their inner lives.

A recurring theme in their work is food. Limited by the magazines available, many turned to images of meals for inspiration. Yet their focus on food was more than longing—it became a way to dream beyond incarceration. Their drawings and collages depict meals they hope to prepare, tables set for loved ones, and the enduring role of care in their identities. Even in confinement, their instinct was to give, to nourish, to imagine futures where they could once again share and provide.

Voices Unbound showcases artwork created by incarcerated women through Unison’s Art Spark program, a visual storytelling initiative in partnership with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office’s IGNITE program.