ON VIEW IN AUGUST: Ex-Counterfeiter Turned Artist Exhibits His Most Daring Collection Yet

Arthur J. Williams Jr, a South Side Chicagoan who defied the U.S. financial system for nearly a decade is exhibiting a collection of artwork in downtown Chicago this month. In a mesmerizing come back story, Williams learned to paint while serving a 12 year prison sentence. During his incarceration, Arthur was featured in the critically acclaimed book, “The Art of Making Money”, and magazine articles in Rolling Stone, American Greed, and Forbes.

He’s now been out of federal prison for 10 years with a considerable amount of attention gained from his unique story and rebirth as an artist. In the past few years Williams creative practice has garnered a growing list of art collectors that include celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Penn and many more. 

His newest exhibition, titled SECOND CHANCES, is considered by the artist to be his greatest collection of work in a single room. The curation, all of which is for sale, visits a variety of mediums, from crumpled hundred dollar sculptures, works on canvas, to an exact replica of the printing press he used to print tens of millions of dollars. 

“For years I’ve dreamt of creating a piece of art with my past; this is as close as it gets.”

Through immense effort, Williams tracked down a 1956 offset one color printing press and recreated it into a work of art titled “How I Made My First Million.” The piece is highlighted in the center of the exhibition, surrounded by his newest collection of work.

Second Chances, a solo show featuring Arthur J. Williams Jr. will be on view until August 20th. The exhibition is located inside the Water Tower Place on floor 2, near the elevators. The show is free of charge and open to the public from Thursday-Sunday during the hours of 1-6pm. 

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