Photo Gallery | Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three opens exhibit of the art he made on death row

One of the West Memphis Three's artistic side is on display in New York City.

Rolling Stone magazine reports Damien Echols' drawings and collages are on display inside a New York gallery.

The art exhibition entitled "Moving Forward, Looking Back" displays art work created by Echols while he was in prison for the murder of three West Memphis, Arkansas boys in 1993.

He along with Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Miskelly were freed 18 years later. Echols told Rolling Stone Buddhism inspired his artwork. The opening reception was Saturday.

This was his artist statement:

These pieces of art are all things I created from my cell on death row,where I spent 18 years for a crime I did not commit. During that time, I had to scavenge for any supplies I got, often bartering for them in the prison underground. I eventually received ordination in the Rinzai tradition of Japanese Buddhism. This is the same tradition that trained the samurai in ancient Japan.

It was this back ground which was the driving force behind much of my artwork. Most of it was the result of me attempting to turn my cell into a shrine,where I would practice meditation from five to seven hours a day. Most of the pieces I created over the years were either given to friends as gifts of gratitude or destroyed by vindictive prison guards. These pieces are all that remain of my 18 years in Hell.

This collection will showcase a series of drawings, collage works, and a set of craft items Damien made while in prison. Both originals and prints will be available for purchase.