Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins by artist Eric Okdeh was located inside the State Correctional Institution at Graterford in Graterford, Pennsylvania. This inspirational mural depicts middleweight boxing champion Bernard Hopkins’ transformation from prison inmate to middle-weight champion boxer. The mural is painted in the gymnasium at Graterford, where it is viewed by all inmates.

As a young adult Hopkins served 3 1/2 years at the maximum-security state prison in Montgomery County for armed robbery. The 40-year-old Philadelphia native was released when he was 22. Fifteen men serving life sentences at Graterford worked with Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program to produce the mural. At the dedication for the mural, Hopkins told the inmates that he was grateful to be their example, but urged them all to be examples to their own families and friends.

Location Note: Mural no longer on view at this location. not accessible for public viewing. (SCI Graterford permanently closed 2018).