Any Hardship In Life

Any Hardship In Life Shelton Alford (AKA Tyreek) Acrylic on parachute paper, stretched 32"W x 32"H Framing available upon request “Any Hardship In Life shows how a convict thinks about a beautiful day outside of being incarcerated. His mind is always outside the jail. My entry date in here is often on my mind so I put the calendar with that date on it to express the pain of living forever incarcerated. A lifetime has passed. Thoughts of being out of jail help. I'm showing through this artwork that your mind don't have to be stuck on jail because you are here. You can learn and do good if your mind is right. This goes for any hardship in life.” Shelton Alford is an artist currently serving a life sentence. Seeking an outlet, he turned to art after an older mentor he frequently spoke with introduced him to painting by giving him a brush and canvas. Alford's work is rooted in storytelling, often reflecting meaningful moments from his life, particularly the joy and memories of his childhood. Alford chooses not to center his art on incarceration. Instead, he focuses on themes of hope, happiness, and personal reflection.