BETHLEHEM, PA, September 22, 2025 – Moravian University School of Theology, in partnership with Bethlehem Area Moravians, will host “Art for Justice” on Sept. 30, featuring Daniel Gwynn, whose powerful paintings chronicle his 30-year journey on Pennsylvania’s death row for a crime he did not commit.
The evening will include an art exhibit and reception at 5 p.m. in the Bahnson Center Lobby, followed by Gwynn’s presentation at 6 p.m. in the Bahnson Center Saal. The Bahnson Center is located at 60 West Locust Street, Bethlehem.
The event is in person and available to follow via Zoom. While all are welcome to attend, registration is encouraged for both in person and online attendees. The Zoom link and recording of the event will be provided for those who register at moravianseminary.edu
Convicted in 1994 at age 24 for an arson murder in West Philadelphia, Gwynn spent three decades maintaining his innocence while facing execution. In 2024, at age 54, he finally walked free as an exonerated man.
“Art became my lifeline,” Gwynn explains of his time in what he describes as being “trapped in a box where the days just tick away.” Throughout his incarceration on death row, painting served as both personal therapy and a means of preserving his humanity in the face of profound injustice.
Born and raised in Philadelphia by his maternal grandmother after experiencing parental abandonment, Gwynn’s early life was marked by the city’s crack cocaine epidemic, violence, and urban decay. Despite attending school regularly and singing in his church choir, the challenging environment would later intersect with a justice system that failed him.
Now working with Art for Justice (artforjustice.org), Gwynn dedicates himself to exposing systemic flaws in the criminal justice system and advocating for more humane approaches to justice and rehabilitation. Learn more about Gwynn at danielgwynn197.com
The Sept. 30 event will provide attendees with a rare opportunity to view Gwynn’s powerful artwork while hearing firsthand about his remarkable journey from death row to freedom, including time for questions and dialogue about art, justice, and redemption.
Art for Justice is an organization dedicated to addressing systemic problems within the criminal justice system through artistic expression and advocacy, promoting solutions that emphasize rehabilitation, humanity, and true justice.
ART FOR JUSTICE EVENT DETAILS
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When: Tuesday evening, Sept. 30, 2025
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Where: Bahnson Center, 60 West Locust Street, Bethlehem (artist talk also available on Zoom)
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Exhibit and reception: 5 p.m. in the Bahnson Center Lobby
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Artist talk: 6 p.m. in the Bahnson Center Saal
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Register for this event
