
How I Accidentally Bought Artwork From An Illinois Inmate
I’ve always loved thrifting, and my latest find is by far one of the most unique (and eerie) pieces I've ever come across.
A few days ago, I was thrifting at the Goodwill on McFarland Road in Rockford when I spotted an art piece that immediately caught my attention. It stood out from everything else, and I hadn't seen anything like it before at any Goodwill stores in town.
It was a painting of hands reaching out from behind a prison barred window, a cigarette dangling from the fingers, with cigarette butts scattered all around the ground in a pile. I had to buy it—its raw, gritty vibe told a story that just couldn’t be ignored.
Once I got home, I turned the piece over, and that's when I realized it wasn't just painted from someone's imagination; it was depicting someone's real life experience. The back of the painting had the artist's name (T.C.M), a title ("The Long Wait"), and what I thought was, a serial number (covered by my hand).
But I realized something chilling: the serial number was actually the artist's inmate number. The artist, it turns out, was incarcerated in Galesburg, Illinois, serving a life sentence for several violent crimes.
I won't disclose his name to respect his privacy, but the idea that this man, imprisoned for such heinous acts, painted this haunting portrayal of his time in prison is both fascinating and extremely unsettling. Insane that this artwork landed in my hands.

Some people warned that it'd bring "bad juju" to my apartment, but I see it as a window into a life I never thought I’d glimpse.
Now I wanna know... did the inmate donate it? Did someone buy it then donate it? Did he take an art class in prison? The questions are endless. Who knew the coolest piece of art at my local thrift store would be my best thrift find so far?
I shared the story on TikTok and showed the artwork, too. Check it out.
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