Halim A. Flowers is a Washington, DC-based artist, author, and human rights advocate who has dedicated his life to promoting love and justice for all. Born in 1980, Flowers is a self-taught visual artist and spoken word performer who has gained worldwide recognition for his stunning paintings and poetry.
Flowers' journey has been marked by immense hardship and resilience. In 1997, as a minor, he was arrested and wrongfully sentenced to two life sentences in Washington, DC. He spent over 20 years in prison before the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 effectuated his release in 2019. During his time in prison, Flowers became an avid reader and writer, penning 11 published non-fiction works and honing his artistic skills.
Upon his release, Flowers wasted no time in pursuing his passion for the arts. He was awarded the prestigious Halcyon Arts Lab and Echoing Green fellowship awards, which provided him with the resources and support he needed to create and exhibit his art. He has since exhibited his work in numerous galleries and museums, including The Museum of Modern Art's "Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration" exhibit.
In addition to his visual art, Flowers is a gifted spoken word performer and has shared his poetry at venues across the country. He is also a successful businessman, having launched several ventures while still in prison. He is married to L. Patrice McKinney and is raising a family in Washington, DC.
Flowers is an ardent advocate for human rights and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice and Cultural DC. He is best known for his quote, "Love is the Antibody," which encapsulates his belief in the power of love to heal and transform society. Flowers' TEDx Talk, "Criminal Justice Reform," has further amplified his message and brought attention to the urgent need for reform in the US criminal justice system.
Flowers' work has not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards and honors, including a fellowship from Georgetown University's Prison and Justice Initiative and a grant from the Art for Justice Fund. He was also featured as a "Justice Ambassador" in the film "Halim's Hope" (2020), which highlights his journey and his commitment to promoting love and justice for all.
“I am a ‘Superpredator.’ After being sentenced to life in prison at the age of 16, this is the title that I was given. Held in a cage for 22 years, I began crafting my method of artistic expression to find some sense of peace in a hopeless place. [Now,] I use the language of the visual arts and spoken word to further my love revolution. I believe that love is the antibody to all social inequalities. I use my creativity to destroy social constructs that create hatred, with the weapon of radical love. Poetry, spoken word, photography, and paintings are my weapons of artistic mass construction.” -Halim A. Flowers.
