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.

Events

Presentation done at the Greene Street Friends School

Freedom Celebration


Daniel Gwynn's 1st Year of Freedom Celebration was enjoyed by family & friends on 3/2/25. Featured were 25 pieces of Daniel's art, a slide show with photos of his past year, and a presentation by Daniel, his attorney, Karl Schwartz, Cornelia Swinson, Executive Director of the Johnson House, and Ann Marie Kirk. Thanks to all who came to celebrate with joy - Daniel - and his incredible journey from the horrors of his wrongful conviction, endurance of death row in PA, support from attorneys, friends, advocates, and his abundant accomplishments during the past year.

AFJ - Juneteenth Exhibit

Innocent: The Truth Not Being Told was exhibited by Art for Justice (AfJ), in partnership with the Johnson House Historic Site’s Center for Social Justice, in the lobby of the Germantown Mennonite Church, May 25 – June 25, 2024. On June 15 during the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival, 2024 AfJ featured a presentation with speakers, Chester Hollman III, Eddie Ramirez, Muti Ajamu-Osagboro, and Daniel Gwynn – each of whom was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted and experienced long-term incarceration in PA. The community gathered to hear each man talk about the injustice of his conviction, his lengthy fight for freedom in a deeply flawed legal system, and his endurance of harsh, dehumanizing prison conditions. Art for Justice is grateful to Chester Hollman for sponsoring the exhibit.


Live Stream Event:

https://youtube.com/live/AW7AHGC59wk?feature=share


CNBC Event Coverage:  https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-germantown-mennonite-johnson-house-juneteenth-art-for-justice/

Chester Hollman III, Daniel Gwynn, and Muti Ajamu-Osagboro

Collaborative work with Art for Justice Exhibits and Events

Daniel has worked collaboratively with Art for Justice (AfJ) since 2007. Through written correspondence Daniel and AfJ Director, AMKirk, discussed upcoming exhibits, themes, locations, presentations, and expected viewers. Daniel created art and narratives for the exhibits and AfJ curated, planned, installed, and presented the events. The list of exhibits and events include:

2007

  • Salford Mennonite Church – Exhibit for Road Map for Life Workshops
  • Arts Criminal Justice Conference hosted by Mural Arts Program, Phila.
  • PA Convention Center: Youth Conference, Federation of Settlements


2008

  • Community College of Phila: TRANSFORMaNATION exhibit


2009

  • Saint Asaph’s Gallery in Bala Cynwyd – Exhibit & Spoken Word
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City


2007, 2009, 2010

  • New Life Youth and Family Services: Road Map for Life Exhibit


2010

  • “INSIDE/OUTSIDE”, Philadelphia City Hall – Art in City Hall.


2010, 2012

  • University of Penn Law School: Legal Visual Arts and Legal Advocacy


2011

  • Widener University: Creations from Within
  • Berean Presbyterian Church in Phila: Road Map Workshop Presentation


2012

  • Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, “Execute Art Not People”
  • Prisoner Advocacy Summit: Community College of Philadelphia
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Gala Exhibit, New York City


2012 - 2018

  • Prison Health Care & Re-entry Summit at PA Convention Center


2012 – 2019

  • Montgomery County Youth Detention Center, Norristown, PA


2013

  • Germantown Friends School: “When Punishment is the Crime”


2014

  • Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square, PA
  • Rudger’s University, “Marking time” Prison Arts & Activism Conf.
  • Presentation & Art Display for Montgomery County Presbytery


2015

  • Free Library of Phila., Parkway Central: Art for Justice Exhibit
  • Elizabethtown College, PA: Prisoner Art for Social Justice
  • Behind the Walls/Between the Lines, SpokenWord,Rotunda, Phila.
  • Creating Freedom, Pendle Hill exhibit and conference
  • St. Vincent de Paul Church in Germantown. 
  • Friends Center, Phila
  • Presentation to Swarthmore Friends Meeting Peace & Justice Com.
  • Witness to Innocence Call to Action at St. Vincent’s Church
  • Ethical Humanist Society of Phila. Social Justice Event
  • Windows on Death Row,   exhibit by NYT International Cartoonist, Patrick Chappatte @ University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
  • TEACH-IN 2, Unitarian Society of Germantown



2016

  • “Justice Denied” @ Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, during Students Week Against the Death Penalty with a presentation of Daniel Gwynn’s art and case of wrongful conviction.
  • PEACEMAKERS with Frontline Dads @ Ben Franklin High School, Phila., Overview of Road Map Workshop with students.
  • “Look Inside” Museum of Art & Peace, Germantown Mennonite Church, October, 2016 – January, 2017.


2017

  • Temple Law School, Presentation and Exhibit during “The Death Penalty & Life Without Parole: The Human Experience”
  • Ursinus College: Two events: AfJ Exhibit, Presentation & Interactive Experience for Peace & Justice Class &“Experiencing Injustice in the Era of Mass  Incarceration.”, Berman Museum Lecture Hall.
  • Peacemakers Event sponsored by Frontline Dads, Phila, PA


2018

  • Ursinus College: “Life and Death in a Broken Criminal Justice System
  • Moravian Church in America’s Synod @ Moravian College
  • Phila. Lawyers for Social Equity, Friends Center, Phila.
  • Contributed to Portraits of Justice, International House, Phila.


2019

  • Who Broke the Law? A Father’s Story of his Son’s Wrongful Conviction,  St. Vincent’s Church Germantown.
  • Who Pays? The Cost of Incarceration to Families & Communities,  Johnson House Historic Site, Feb. 1 – 28.
  • Hope in Hard Times: Prisoner Art for Social Justice,  Sponsored by the Moravian Church’s Eastern District, March 1 – April 21, ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA
  • Moravian Seminary’s Baughton Center, March 9 – April 9. March 19 Tyrone Werts gave two presentations for the Seminary.
  • Temple University, Arts & Incarceration Event,  April 22 with Art for Justice display.
  • Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival, “Women & Girls & Mass Incarceration” hosted by the Johnson House Historic Site, June 15, 2019.
  • Pop-up Event with the Johnson House Historic Site, “History of Tranformative Justice & Steps to Healing”,
  • Annual Conference of State & Local Historic Sites, August 30, 2019.
  • The Truth and Nothing but the Truth,  at St. Vincent’s, Dec. 6, 2019


2020

  • SALA Radio interview:  AfJ Board members Gerry Givnish & AMKirk with Luis Gonzalez discussing mission and AfJ artists.
  • “Art as Resistance” Virtual Gallery during Phila FIGHT’s Summit on Reentry and Prison HealthCare. AfJ displayed art by Charles Lawson, Daniel Gwynn and Rene Ortiz. AMKirk served as panelist on opening day of “Art as Resistance”  Virtual Gallery.
  • Sept. 26 – Oct. 16: Art for Justice Woodland Exhibit


** Note that two Art for Justice exhibits/events scheduled for 2020 were postponed due to the Covid pandemic. AfJ’s exhibit, Art Calling Out for Justice, at Arcadia University, Montgomery County, was cancelled when the University was closed. AfJ’s exhibit and events scheduled for Oct. 5 – Nov. 7 at the Moravian Center, Lancaster was postponed until 2021.

Share by: