Daniel Gwynn

Exonerated Artist 197

Daniel Gwynn is a self-taught artist, motivational speaker, and advocate, whose life is a testament to his perseverance against severe injustice and to his personal transformation.


Daniel was wrongly convicted of arson and murder in 1995 and sentenced to death. After spending nearly three decades behind bars, Daniel’s death sentence was overturned in 2023, and on 2/28/24 he was exonerated and ordered to be released from prison.


While incarcerated Daniel documented his experience and declared his innocence through his art. Daniel’s art, from the abyss of death row, was his call to the world to tell of his persistent journey to obtain justice despite an avalanche of obstacles.


Since regaining his freedom Daniel has emerged as a powerful force in the art, motivational speaking and social justice world. Through his art and his advocacy Daniel is creating a lasting impact on communities as he uses his creativity as both a healing tool and a call for justice.

My Art, My Story


I am Daniel Gwynn. I was on Pennsylvania's death row for an arson/murder I did not commit. For 25 years, I sat there trapped in a box where the days just ticked away, and the walls closed in like a trash compactor crushing all hopes, dreams and life. I painted to heal, to survive.


After coming to death row, painting was my therapy in a world devoid of any positive stimulation. It helped me survive this hostile environment while working through the emotional baggage that drove me to hurting myself and my family by using drugs. Painting helped me understand that none of this was my fault, and it definitely wasn't the family's fault either. My parents were good people in a messed up world designed for them to fail. They were young, just 17 and still in high school when they had me.


Society wasn't very kind to our black community where racism obstructed any opportunity to find good jobs or improve their stations in life. Once I understood my family's struggles, I chose to forgive them, and to forgive myself for hating them. I also forgave my stepfather for abusing me and my mother because he suffered behavioral health issues and was a victim of our unjust society as well.


I decided to become a better person by using my pains and suffering as strengths instead of a weakness. I saw Jesus Christ and my mother as models for my new way of life. God's simple truth is, "To love others, and treat people the way you want to be treated." So simplistic. My mother was so spiritual, unselfish, and helpful to whoever was in need. I discovered that she was a Queen and Warrior, but most of all a good Mother.


My paintings project the social injustices of the world, and reflect the pains that we can relate to. I want to bring awareness to the people that view my artworks by telling the stories of the systemic deconstruction of the Black race and of the self-destructive culture that stunts America's growth . We're trapped in poverty, deprived of resources needed for education & self-sufficiency. We're discriminated against in employment & housing opportunities. Our streets are flooded with guns, drugs, and hopelessness. And America's history, our history has been white-washed to the point where some of us don't know who we are. Getting rid of the Black race will not erase the stains of slavery--America's grim origins. We all need to heal together and become one nation. My mission is to help us heal through art.


My Art, My Story


I am Daniel Gwynn. I was on Pennsylvania's death row for an arson/murder I did not commit. For 25 years, I sat there trapped in a box where the days just ticked away, and the walls closed in like a trash compactor crushing all hopes, dreams and life. I painted to heal, to survive.


After coming to death row, painting was my therapy in a world devoid of any positive stimulation. It helped me survive this hostile environment while working through the emotional baggage that drove me to hurting myself and my family by using drugs. Painting helped me understand that none of this was my fault, and it definitely wasn't the family's fault either. My parents were good people in a messed up world designed for them to fail. They were young, just 17 and still in high school when they had me.


Society wasn't very kind to our black community where racism obstructed any opportunity to find good jobs or improve their stations in life. Once I understood my family's struggles, I chose to forgive them, and to forgive myself for hating them. I also forgave my stepfather for abusing me and my mother because he suffered behavioral health issues and was a victim of our unjust society as well.


I decided to become a better person by using my pains and suffering as strengths instead of a weakness. I saw Jesus Christ and my mother as models for my new way of life. God's simple truth is, "To love others, and treat people the way you want to be treated." So simplistic. My mother was so spiritual, unselfish, and helpful to whoever was in need. I discovered that she was a Queen and Warrior, but most of all a good Mother.


My paintings project the social injustices of the world, and reflect the pains that we can relate to. I want to bring awareness to the people that view my artworks by telling the stories of the systemic deconstruction of the Black race and of the self-destructive culture that stunts America's growth . We're trapped in poverty, deprived of resources needed for education & self-sufficiency. We're discriminated against in employment & housing opportunities. Our streets are flooded with guns, drugs, and hopelessness. And America's history, our history has been white-washed to the point where some of us don't know who we are. Getting rid of the Black race will not erase the stains of slavery--America's grim origins. We all need to heal together and become one nation. My mission is to help us heal through art.



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