Eastern State Announces Cody Stuhltrager as Inaugural ReVision: Art and Justice Artist-in-Residence

PHILADELPHIA, PA (July 29, 2026) — Eastern State today announced Cody Stuhltrager as the inaugural artist-in-residence for ReVision: Art and Justice, a multi-year residency and exhibition series that elevates justice-impacted artists and expands public understanding of the ongoing impact of incarceration through contemporary art.

As the first artist selected for the three-year initiative, Stuhltrager is developing a new body of work that will debut at Eastern State in fall 2026. Throughout the residency, he will work closely with Eastern State's staff and community partners, engage visitors through public programming, and share his creative process while developing an original installation inspired by the historic site.

Stuhltrager began his artistic career in 2013 while collaborating with Mural Arts Philadelphia during his incarceration at SCI-Graterford. Over the past decade, he has contributed to dozens of murals and public art projects throughout Philadelphia, exhibited at prominent institutions including the Barnes Foundation, and dedicated himself to supporting fellow artists across disciplines through the production and installation of their work.

ReVision: Art and Justice reflects Eastern State's commitment to centering lived experience and broadening public understanding of the ongoing impact of incarceration. Over the next three years, the residency series will welcome three justice-impacted artists, each creating original, site-specific installations while working alongside Eastern State's staff, collaborating with community partners, and engaging visitors through public programs. The initiative is supported by a $360,000 grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, which invests in ambitious, imaginative, and catalytic artistic work throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

"ReVision creates opportunities for artists with lived experience to shape the way we understand justice, humanity, and transformation," said Dr. Kerry Sautner, President & CEO of Eastern State. "Cody's extraordinary artistic journey and commitment to community make him an ideal inaugural artist for this residency. His work reflects the power of creativity to inspire dialogue, challenge assumptions, and deepen public understanding of incarceration. We are grateful to The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage for supporting this initiative and helping us continue to connect history with the important conversations shaping our world today."

"Art has given me the opportunity to express myself in ways that words alone never could," said Cody Stuhltrager. "This residency is a chance to create new work in a place that encourages people to think differently about incarceration, humanity, and the possibility of change. I'm honored to be part of ReVision and excited to share this project as it evolves."

Visitors can meet Stuhltrager during Summer Nights: Art & Resistance Night on Saturday, August 1, where he will lead a drop-in make-and-take art activity as part of the evening's exploration of creativity and resilience. He will also participate in a free public panel discussion the evening of September 23, exploring the history of Eastern State’s arts program and the power of place-based artistic practice.

Additional details about Stuhltrager's installation, related public programming, and future ReVision: Art and Justice artists will be announced throughout the initiative.

ReVision: Art and Justice has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

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About Eastern State
Eastern State preserves America’s first penitentiary, advancing public understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on the lives of those affected by it, to inspire a more just future. For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.

About The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is a multidisciplinary grantmaker and hub for knowledge-sharing, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, dedicated to fostering a vibrant cultural community in Greater Philadelphia. The Center invests in ambitious, imaginative, and catalytic work that showcases the region’s cultural vitality and enhances public life, and engages in an exchange of ideas concerning artistic and interpretive practice with a broad network of cultural practitioners and leaders.