Exhibition of 27 portrait busts by artist Becky Gottsegen on view October 1-31; October 8 event features conversation with exonerated men
NEW ORLEANS – Dillard University, in partnership with the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice, will present two events this October that put the stories of the wrongfully convicted at the center of the conversation: “Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted,” an exhibition of portrait busts by artist Becky Gottsegen, and “Exonerated Voices,” a moderated discussion with several of the exonerated men featured in the exhibit.
It is an honor to welcome these men to Dillard’s campus to share their stories with our students and the wider community,” said Dillard University President Dr. Monique Guillory. “Their journeys, and their refusal to surrender hope, are testaments to the resilience of the human spirit. This is a story we need to hear. It should inspire us not only to stand up for what is right, but to work to ensure that no one endures this injustice again.”
“Exonerated Voices”
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., in Georges Auditorium (PSB 115) at Dillard University, audiences are invited to an impactful conversation with a group of exonerated men, including Calvin Duncan, Raymond Flanks, Isaac Knapper, Earl Truvia, Cedric Dent, Larry Delmore, Jerome Morgan, Jarvis Ballard, Robert Jones, and Wilbert Jones. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Ashraf Esmail of the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice.
“Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted”
Presented in conjunction with the conversation, the exhibition features 27 portrait busts by artist Becky Gottsegen, each depicting a person who was wrongfully convicted and later exonerated. The exhibition will be on view October 1-31, 2026, at Michael & Shaun Jones Hall on the Dillard University campus.
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About the Artist
Becky Gottsegen began sculpting portraits of men exonerated by Innocence & Justice Louisiana (IJLA) – formerly Innocence Project of New Orleans – in 2021 when she was commissioned by the organization to create a portrait of Jerome Morgan which was gifted to him. She then sculpted a portrait of Jarvis Ballard and then Sullivan Walter and these portraits were also gifted to the men. After she had completed sculptures of Robert Jones and Raymond Flanks and gifted those to them, Becky was encouraged to put together an exhibition of the portraits. While attending the organization’s gala in 2022, she took photos of the exonerees she met there and began the project of sculpting them all. Twenty-four of the men featured were exonerated by IJLA and three by others, but she hasn’t stopped toward sculpting more of the Louisiana exonerees still living.
About Dillard University
Dillard University, located in New Orleans at 2601 Gentilly Blvd., is a private four-year liberal arts historically black institution with a history dating back to 1869. For more information, please visit www.dillard.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter, Facebook @DU1869 and Instagram, Dillard University.
