Artist:  Leonard Peltier (b. 1944)
Title:  “Braking Loose”  

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions:  16 x 20 inches”
Date:  2005

Where Painted: United States Penitentiary Leavenworth KS

Baby with bent crib bars. When your in prison all you want to do is brake those bars and be free. Leonard Peltier thought babies would feel the same way in a crib.

This original painting by Leonard Peltier portrays a Native American child eating within a surreal, caged environment, symbolizing confinement and lost freedom. The delicate yet powerful imagery reflects themes of innocence, resilience, and the enduring impact of cultural oppression. Peltier’s use of vivid colors and stark contrasts invites viewers to contemplate the complex intersection of identity and captivity.