Jesse Krimes is a Philadelphia based artist and curator whose work explores how contemporary media shapes and reinforces societal mechanisms of power and control, with a particular focus on criminal and racial justice. Shortly after graduating from Millersville University, he was indicted by the U.S. government on drug charges. While serving a six-year prison sentence he produced and smuggled out numerous bodies of work, established prison art programs, and formed artist collectives. After his release, he co-founded Right of Return USA, the first national fellowship dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated artists.
Krimes’ work has been exhibited at venues including MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, International Red Cross Museum, ICA San Jose, Zimmerli Museum, and Aperture Gallery. His curatorial practice is focused on elevating other system-impacted artists, and he also successfully led a class-action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for charging formerly incarcerated people predatory fees after their release from federal prison.
Krimes was awarded fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Creative Capital, Independence Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, and the Art For Justice Fund. His work is in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, OZ Art NWA, Kadist Art Foundation, Agnes Gund Collection, and Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection. He is represented by Malin Gallery in New York.
Krimes’ work has been exhibited at venues including MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, International Red Cross Museum, ICA San Jose, Zimmerli Museum, and Aperture Gallery. His curatorial practice is focused on elevating other system-impacted artists, and he also successfully led a class-action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for charging formerly incarcerated people predatory fees after their release from federal prison.
Krimes was awarded fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Creative Capital, Independence Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, and the Art For Justice Fund. His work is in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, OZ Art NWA, Kadist Art Foundation, Agnes Gund Collection, and Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection. He is represented by Malin Gallery in New York.