Fulton Leroy Washington, the self-taught painter known as Mr. Wash, has unveiled plans for a $15-million community arts hub in Compton, California. Designed by the renowned firm Morphosis Architects, the proposed Art by Wash Studio & Community Center will provide housing, studio space, and a small-business incubator specifically for formerly incarcerated artists. The project was launched alongside Washington’s latest exhibition, “The City of Compton: Then & Now,” which serves as a fundraiser for the construction.
This initiative represents a significant intersection of social justice and urban development, aiming to create a replicable model for rehabilitation through the arts. Washington, who served 21 years in prison before his sentence was commuted by President Obama, is leveraging his rising art world profile—including a major win at the Hammer Museum’s biennial—to provide structural support for reentry. The project has gained early political support from Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, signaling a shift in the city's narrative toward creative resilience and economic opportunity.