Free. Advance registration required.
Presented in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and Loughney Art. 

Please Note: In-person tickets for this event are now SOLD OUT. We hope you'll join us online. Register here to attend virtually via Zoom webinar.

Join us in person at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site or online via Zoom as we celebrate the dedication of Mark Loughney's newest mural, Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration. The reception will feature food and drink as well as remarks by Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia; Dr. Kerry Sautner, President and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site; and a Q&A discussion with the artist before viewing his work. 

Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study Of Mass Incarceration is inspired by and titled after pyrrhic defeat theory, which was posited by Jeffrey Reiman and Paul Leighton in their book, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison. Pyrrhic defeat is the concept that those with the power to make changes to the criminal justice system benefit from the way it currently works. The collection of portraits includes 771 portraits of incarcerated individuals and 800 portraits of people who support changes to the criminal justice system. A portion of those portraits are now on display as part of a mural at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

About the Artist
Mark Loughney is a formerly-incarcerated painter and draftsman from Pennsylvania whose art acts as a courier for criminal justice reform efforts nationwide. He is a recipient of the 2023 Art For Justice Fellowship and 2024 Mural Arts Reimagining Reentry Fellow. He works from his studio in Philadelphia and is expanding his Pyrrhic Defeat portrait project to include portraits of supporters of criminal justice reform.

Justice 101 is a discussion series examining the history of the justice system in America, from its founding to today, and the impact it has on society, citizens, and the world. Justice 101 programs are free and take place monthly. You can join us live at the times listed, or watch the discussions back anytime on YouTube. Justice 101 is designed for learners of all ages.