About

All of my inspiration comes from music. How could it not? I have been completely consumed with music my entire life. I have gone through so many years of my life where the only thing I wanted to do was sit in a room, drink whiskey, and listen to records. That has always been my favorite pastime. And as the nights would wear on, I would always end up painting.
 

Today, I am over thirteen years sober. I still have the opportunity to listen to music and paint but no longer need the alcohol and drugs to do so. Who needs them with all the torment I deal with everyday from taking another man’s life.
 

Just like many artists in prison, I love getting art supplies to work with, but they are not necessary. I will draw in the dirt; I will smear toothpaste on cardboard; I will make paint out of instant coffee; and I will bribe paint crews for whatever I can get. My desire is that some of my work will end up in someone’s home — on someone’s wall — that they will want to live with a piece of my art.”
 

— WB Livingston, Oklahoma
 

William B. Livingston III has been featured in the Guardian UK, The Washington Post Magazine and has had paintings displayed in the MoMA PS1 gallery in New York.

He has all been published by or worked with the following organizations:

Justice Arts Coalition

For Everyone Co.

Brick of Gold Publishing

Marking Time

Pen America

Prison Journalism Project

Jail Guitar Doors

Amplify Music

White Snake Project

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

National Legal Aid & Defense Assoc.

Narrow Arts Center

University of Alabama