Living Arts of Tulsa is presenting “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Decides?”, an exhibition by Kenneth and Isabelle Watson Reams, with support from JustArts Gallery. Kenneth Reams, a former Arkansas death row inmate now serving a life sentence, created over 50 works including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and poetry alongside his wife Isabelle. The show opened April 3 and runs through April and May, exploring themes of incarceration, capital punishment, and social justice through the lens of Reams’ 31 years on death row.
The exhibition matters because it uses visual art to confront the moral and systemic issues of the U.S. carceral system, particularly in Oklahoma, which has a notorious history with capital punishment. By bringing directly impacted voices into public discourse, the show aims to foster dialogue and advocate for justice. It also highlights Kenneth Reams’ transformation into an artist and activist, and his broader goal of establishing a National Museum on Capital Punishment.