Kenneth Gourlay

Kenneth Gourlay taught himself acrylic painting as a way to pass the time while incarcerated for eleven years in Michigan. He experimented with various styles, with a preference toward impressionistic landscapes. Thanks to the Prison Creative Arts Project, he was able to sell some of his work and take art more seriously. Although he does not create art professionally, he appreciates the ability to develop this talent afforded to him by PCAP.

Having been released in 2018, Kenneth is now pursuing a graduate degree in sociology. Incarceration and the criminal legal system as a whole opened his eyes to a world of social problems requiring attention, and he believes that his talents are best used directed toward advanced research into these issues.

In addition to visual art, Kenneth wrote and published a book detailing some of the changes in perspective he developed through his experiences. The book, Lessons Learned: Life-Altering Experiences of Incarceration, is available through most major retailers as well as directly from his website.