Some of the most vital art being made today reminds us that we are all much closer than we might imagine to mass incarceration. “In cities in America, we’re used to police sirens going all the time,” says the New York-based artist Dread Scott, 57, who has long engaged with themes of race and justice. “We’re used to the sound of police helicopters flying over our heads; we’re used to seeing images of cops harassing Black folk; we’re used to seeing wanted posters,” he adds. For “Wanted” (2014), a community-based art project out of Harlem, Scott enlisted a former police sketch artist to make portraits of local residents who haven’t committed any crimes. “Wanted for lifestyle choice,” one of the posters reads. “The male was observed standing on a corner with other males. The suspect exhibited dress and behavior typical of alleged gang members,” the notice continues.
