Murderabilia, also known as murderbilia, is a term identifying collectibles related to murders, murderers or other violent crimes, coined by Andy Kahan, director of the Houston-based Mayor's Crime Victims Office.[1][2]
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Serial killer art is defined as artwork created by serial killers while in prison. Often, this process is used as a therapy device, or for further understanding a particularly disturbed psyche, while in other instances it is purely a method of time spanning entertainment for imprisoned individuals. The artists usually vary dramatically in skill and themes covered.
John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, and Henry Lee Lucas are a few of the better known American serial killer artists. Perry Smith, the mass murderer known from Truman Capote's famous nonfiction work In Cold Blood, was also a prolific artist.
Collectors typically must have direct contact to obtain and authenticate this art. The actual pieces can sell for large sums of money depending on the individual artist, and their notoriety through serial killing.
Murderabilia is a controversial area of the collecting world, as evidenced by the public backlash to the idea of selling or profiting from violent crimes.
In 2005, a serial killer's artwork was sold online in Massachusetts. State lawmakers proposed to block the activity, setting off a debate on free speech rights of prisoners.[3] In 2007, American school shooter Wayne Lo caused controversy after it was found that he was selling his artwork on a website.[4]
Murderabilia and True Crime Collecting. The first book dedicated to the subject ISBN: 9781449094218
   | Serial killer art raises free speech debate in Massachusetts - Reuters.com - World News, Financial News, Breaking US & International News |
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