Fulton Leroy Washington

The Liberation of Painter and Patriot Mr. Wash.

- Mr. Wash

“So these aren’t the type of defendants, in my opinion, that the mandatory minimums and all that are addressed to, but that unfortunately, is not for me to decide… the guidelines … require that there be life imprisonment imposed.” The subject of those words, a husband and son, has always maintained his innocence regarding drug possession. His court-appointed lawyer, desperate to find a witness, asked if he might be able to draw a composite sketch, and to everyone’s astonishment, he did, but to no avail. Fulton Washington, who goes by the avuncular Mr. Wash, served 21 years in prison, and may have served for life, if not for the persistent devotion of his daughter, Ahneishia, and the compassionate pardon of President Barack Obama. When Juxtapoz founder Robert Williams brought his art and story to our attention, we wasted no time in finding artist, teacher and peacemaker, Mr. Wash.

Gwynned Vitello: The story goes that your mother, who worked for Mattel, would bring home broken toys that you would repair or re-engineer. It sounds like you had a knack for reformation early on!