Publications
Coverage, features, and collaborations that have documented the work of Imerj and Be Free Gallery.
Life & Work with Daniel Celaya of Huntsville
Voyage Houston · May 18, 2026
Voyage Houston profiles Daniel Celaya in their Life & Work series, tracing his path from nearly two decades of incarceration to founding Imerj Art & Advocacy Projects and Be Free Gallery in Huntsville. The interview covers how art sustained him in solitary confinement and his ongoing mission to represent justice-impacted artists through partnerships with local mentors and academic institutions.
Imerj-ing from prison into art
The Huntsvillan · Steph Mamber · September 28, 2025
Daniel Celaya, a formerly incarcerated artist, founded Be Free Gallery and Imerj Art & Advocacy Projects in Huntsville to showcase and support art created by justice-involved individuals. Through his nonprofit, Celaya promotes dignity and second chances for underserved creators — channeling his own experience of using art as a transformative tool during his 20 years in Texas prisons.
New gallery featuring work by incarcerated artists opens in Huntsville
Glasstire · March 11, 2025
Texas art publication Glasstire covers the opening of Be Free Gallery — the first gallery in Huntsville dedicated to exhibiting work by currently and formerly incarcerated artists from prisons across Texas.
The New Americans
ACLU of Texas · Vincent Valdez · 2025
Artist-in-residence Vincent Valdez documented Daniel Celaya as part of the ACLU of Texas' New Americans series — a collection of portraits celebrating resilience and community across contemporary America. The series documents scenes, faces, and communities that represent ongoing resistance and solidarity across the United States.