Join us at the Washington Studio School Saturday, November 7 from 6 PM to 7 PM for an intimate talk with artist Spencer Reinhard on art, resilience, and transformation under severe constraint. Reflecting on the beginning of an 87-month prison sentence as a young artist, Reinhard shares how he navigated life behind bars by developing a dedicated artistic discipline, learning Spanish, avoiding conflict, and discovering the technique of ink transfer using minimal, everyday materials.
The talk culminates in a deep dive into The Spiral Helix—the defining artwork of his prison period, which required over 2,000 hours of meticulous work across 11 months. Reinhard will unpack the full arc of this monumental piece, from initial concept and painstaking preparation to execution and ultimate release, illustrating how strict limitations can yield profound creative freedom and purpose.
Spencer Reinhard is an American painter who lives and works in Colombia, home to the greatest diversity of bird species in the world. Avian life forms the cornerstone of his artistic practice, offering structural cohesion while reflecting a continuous evolution of technique and style across various mediums.
Although Reinhard's artwork is held in private collections globally, public exhibitions remain rare. His pieces are primarily acquired through private collectors or directly via his website.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Reinhard demonstrated a talent for art at a young age and received a scholarship to Transylvania University. During his sophomore year, however, his life changed dramatically when he orchestrated a heist of rare books and manuscripts from the university's special collections library. The robbery became one of the most publicized art crimes in United States history and resulted in a sentence of 87 months in federal prison. During his incarceration at FCI Ashland and FCI Fort Dix, Reinhard developed his signature magazine-transfer technique and achieved fluency in Spanish.
Today, Reinhard works from his studio in Cali, Colombia, focusing primarily on local bird species. His process involves rendering subjects in acrylic on paper before embedding them under multiple layers of gel medium. Ripped magazine fragments, text, and photographic details are suspended within these layers, creating complex visual environments. His work ultimately serves as a celebration of discovery, transformation, and artistic reinvention.
This event is co-sponsored by Jackson Art Center and the Washington Studio School
Space is limited, please sign up here on Eventbrite.