Window Into Solitary at The BLACK Gallery PDX

Step inside the stories of 17 survivors of solitary confinement , a rare and urgent glimpse into the human cost of isolation.

Window Into Solitary is a photography exhibition that documents the lived experiences of 17 men and women who survived long-term solitary confinement. Through striking portraits and first-person testimony, the exhibition invites us to confront the human cost of isolation while honoring the resilience of those who endured it.

Each image is paired with powerful written reflections from participants about their time in solitary confinement and their perspectives on its widespread use across the U.S. carceral system. Together, these stories create a rare and urgent window into an often hidden reality.

This exhibition is presented in conjunction with — a new book by Christopher Blackwell, Prof. Deborah Zalesne, Kwaneta Harris, and Dr. Terry Kupers. The book and exhibition together expose the cruel and unusual punishment faced by close to 125,000 people each day inside American prisons and call us to action.

Hosted by
The BLACK Gallery PDX: Don't Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists.

Look2Justice (Christopher Blackwell): Look2Justice provides peer-led civic education and empowerment programs to currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families. We work to empower directly impacted people with the skills and knowledge to navigate legislative, policy, and narrative change so that they may advocate on their own behalf.

Social Documentary Network / ZEKE Magazine (Glenn Ruga): Glenn Ruga is a photographer, graphic designer and curator. He founded the Social Documentary Network (SDN) as a web platform for a globalcommunity of documentary photographers to present their work online. As a photographer, he has created traveling and online documentary exhibits on the struggle for a multicultural future. In 2015, Ruga launched ZEKE: The Magazine of Global Documentary, a printand digital magazine published by SDN presenting the best stories from the Social Documentary Network.

Photography by
Deborah Espinosa (Seattle), Lori Waselchuk (Philadelphia), Brian Branch-Price (New York), Brian Frank (San Francisco)

• Opens the week of March 14, 2026
• On view through April 30, 2026
• The show will be available for viewing to those who schedule appointments via email: [email protected]
• Gallery hours: Thursday–Friday, 12–5 PM
• Address: 916 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209

This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited to 70 attendees, so please RSVP in advance.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Black Gallery PDX, 916 Northwest Flanders Street, Portland, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App