The Art of Crime: Courtroom Drawings of Charlestown-Based Artist Joe Connolly (Talk May 14, 2026)

Join us for a visual feast of criminals and innocents in Boston’s courtrooms from the 1970s to the 1990s. Presentation given by Eve Griffin, Boston Public Library's Curator of Painting & Sculpture.

Courtroom drawing of “Chalmas” ca. 1985–1986

Doors will open at 5:45 pm, with the presentation starting promptly at 6:00 pm.

Free and open to all; sponsored by the Friends of the Charlestown Branch of the BPL, with a reception following in Memorial Hall, where examples of Connolly’s work will be on display, including copies of his unique map of Charlestown, available for sale.

About Joseph A. Connolly and his work: Joseph A. Connolly III, a long-time resident of Charlestown, died unexpectedly in 2022. An accomplished visual artist, he had worked for many years as an illustrator and courtroom artist for Channels 4, 5, and 7 in Boston. Many of his illustrations were also displayed by other local and national news outlets. After his death, his family, along with several Charlestown friends and neighbors, gathered together to identify a section of his artwork collection that specifically pertained to his courtroom sketches.These particular drawings cover Boston-area trials and crime scenes that happened from the 1970s to the 1990s. This collection, totaling 350 sketches, was donated to the Boston Public Library. Curator Eve Griffin will share stories behind several of these illustrations during her slide presentation.

Read the full press release.