Gary Tyler speaks about his work at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan. Behind Tyler are his quilts Big Toe , (2024) and Enduring , (2025). They feature two individuals who are incarcerated. He hopes his work draws attention to their plight and humanity. Sea Stachura for NPR hide caption

Sea Stachura for NPR

Imagine living all of your adult life behind bars for a murder you didn't commit and being released at 58. You're also a fabric artist, and the Smithsonian has acquired one of your quilts. That's the story of Gary Tyler, and now, the artist has his first solo exhibit.

At the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan, Gary Tyler points to a black-and-white quilt that's based on a photo.

"That's a picture that was taken by my brother back in [19]74," he says.

He was a 16-year-old with a flair for fashion, living in Louisiana. One school morning, he dressed in a body shirt with a sweater overtop.…