Gil Batle is a self-taught artist whose intricately carved ostrich eggshells, drawings, and paintings draw directly from his experiences within the California prison system. His detailed scenes recall prison life, its characters and routines, and the systems of survival he came to know over more than two decades of incarceration.

Born in San Francisco, Batle began drawing at an early age and continued throughout years of addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. In prison, he drew portraits and greeting cards for fellow inmates and learned to tattoo, using his ability as an artist to earn acceptance and, at times, protection.

After his release in 2007, Batle left California for the Philippines, his family’s native country, where he continues to live and work. From there, he began looking back at his years in prison through art, most notably through his carved ostrich eggshells. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections including the Rose Art Museum, the Memorial Art Gallery, and the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation.

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