Alyse Emdur first came across a pretty painting in a prison at the age of five while visiting room while visiting her brother. Normally only seen by a small audience, such large-scale paintings in visiting rooms are used as backdrops for photographs taken of inmates to be shared with friends and family. They feature various landscapes such as beaches, cityscapes, and mountains that provide an escapist outlet for those confined to the facility. The artworks are usually done by the inmates themselves, created to be enjoyed by other inmates, visitors, and employees alike. In a project titled Prison Landscapes, Emdur has documented and collected images of the paintings, to share the art with a larger audience.

[via PetaPixel]