Celebrating 32 Years of the Innocence Project: A Collaboration with Artist Dwight White

Chicago-based artist Dwight White was a student athlete when he turned to art as a means of therapy and self-discovery. 

“I had a significant injury during my college football career and kind of just lost my sense of identity. So during that time of trying to figure out what I stood for, re-figure out my own purpose, I found art almost as a therapeutic practice at first, then I recognized how art could impact the community,” Mr. White explained.

Artist Dwight White wearing the Innocence Project sweatshirt featuring his art from the collaboration.

Now a multidisciplinary artist, Mr. White’s work isn’t confined to the canvas. His creative vision is also expressed through murals and curated events to engage with communities that may not fit the typical demographic of art consumers.

“Once I started recognizing art’s impact on community and the importance of it being accessible to communities that don’t necessarily feel comfortable walking in and accessing that white box type of environment that can often be intimidating,“ said Mr. White, “I felt like that became a bigger part of my practice as an artist.”

So is inspiring the next generation. In 2023, Mr. White partnered with BUILD, an organization helping at-risk youth escape gangs and violence to become leaders in their communities. They now see themselves in the faces Mr. White painted on the exterior of the building. 

To celebrate its 32nd anniversary, the Innocence Project partnered with Mr. White to create a unique line of limited-edition merchandise that highlights the organization’s ongoing commitment to racial and criminal legal system reform.

Dwight White’s original artwork for the Innocence Project.

The artwork is featured on an exclusive series of hoodies and t-shirts. The image portrays a person surrounded by flowers, a bird, and a window that illustrate beauty amidst struggle. Describing his creative vision Mr. White said that the nature depicted in the work, symbolizes freedom from boundaries and constraints, a theme he sees in the Innocence Project’s mission of restoring freedom for the wrongfully convicted. 

The central character is intentionally genderless to emphasize that wrongful conviction has impacted everyone, regardless of how they identify. 

“This is not only a male-dominant issue,” he said. “I thought it was pretty fitting that the concept we selected was someone who could fit [any] gender.” 

The Innocence Project’s Creative Lead Lauren Harris, who worked with the digital fundraising team to curate a short list of artists in consideration for this collaboration, said Mr. White’s graffiti style, which is evident in this work, made him an excellent choice. 

“Graffiti is one of the freest forms of art. It’s right there in the public. What better way to express freedom than with this form of art that embodies that,” said Ms. Harris.

“His art captures the feeling of hope in times of trouble. That seems to be a throughline in his work and the work he’s created for us. It so beautifully reflects our mission and values — centered on people, focused on justice and hope,” said Abbey McHugh, Innocence Project’s digital fundraising coordinator.

The new limited-edition merchandise line featuring Mr. White’s art is now available for new monthly donors, as a thank you for their commitment to our mission, with each monthly donation supporting the Innocence Project’s continuing efforts to free wrongfully convicted individuals and reform the criminal legal system. 

Start a monthly donation and receive a limited-edition hoodie or t-shirt.