The Easy Money Poetry Society Presents Ike Moody

Ike Moody is a self-taught artist whose original and powerful work has captured the imagination of people across the country. His work, including many commissioned pieces, has been purchased by people in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, New York, California, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C.

Much of Moody’s work features inmate life in a federal prison, where he himself was incarcerated for almost seven years. He was released July 23rd of 2007 and now resides in Lexington, Kentucky..

Moody developed his vision and technique as an artis using what limited media was available: ink pen, chalk, pencil, some acrylic, and a very inventive and dramatic use of crayon. The chaulk self-portrait featured here was made on a brown paper bag.

Moody’s most expressive pieces contain text embedded into the art, such as the large (24” by 24”) colorful crayon representation of two inmates with the words: “Bally Ho on the left, presenting the Easy Money Poetry Society.” This inspired the name of the company which helps to exhibit his art.

The Easy Money Poetry Society first exhibited Moody's work at Gallery 412 in Owensboro. Later, while Ike was still incarcerated, his work was featured in the Cochenour Gallery at Georgetown College, the Ralph Center for the Arts at Kentucky Wesleyan College, and the Wingspan Gallery, and Art at the Cathedral (Christ Church Cathedral) in Lexington. A public exhibition, reception, and performance of an original jazz composition, commisioned to celebrate Ike's release from prison and composed by Teresa Tedder, was held in September of 2007 in Owensboro, Kentucky. That music and the images that inspired it can be heard elsewhere on this site.

A recent exhibition of Lexington artists at the Andrew Edlin Gallery in New York City included post-release pieces by Ike. The feature piece was his first hand-made book, telling the story of his bank robberies in 2000 and illustrating it with nine, large brilliant crayon pieces. A few remaining copies of this limited-edition, hand-made book are still available for sale. The story and these illustrations are featured elsewhere on this site.

Most of Moody’s work (originals and some prints) is available for purchase, with prices ranging from $400 to $3,500. Moody also has two exhibition posters (“Onions” and “Stoogatz”, $10 each) and two limited edition artist prints: a black and white contour entitled “God: In Four Persons” (300 prints, $70 each) and a large crayon representation of Jimi Hendrix (70 prints, $150 each). See elsewhere on this site.