Krimes

While locked-up for six years in federal prison, artist Jesse Krimes secretly creates monumental works of art—including an astonishing 30-foot mural made with prison bed sheets, hair gel, and newspaper. He smuggles out each panel piece-by-piece with the help of fellow artists, only seeing the mural in totality upon coming home. As Jesse's work captures the art world's attention, he struggles to adjust to life outside, living with the threat that any misstep will trigger a life sentence. Leaning into his own identity as a formerly incarcerated and celebrated artist, Jesse turns the spotlight on people still in prison, asking us to question surface representations and to recognize overlooked beauty and power. The story unfolds in original footage as well as animation, which is created by the filmmakers in collaboration with Jesse Krimes.