A Buffalo man who spent 27 years of his life behind bars for a murder he didn't commit, despite maintaining his innocence for years, says it was his drawings that ultimately set him free.

Valentino Dixon was exonerated in September 2018. On Thursday night, he had his first major exhibition in a museum, at the Burchfield Penney Art Center on Elmwood Avenue.

Much of Dixon's time behind bars was spent sketching lush greens and open fairways, though he never stepped foot on a golf course. His work caught the attention of the world, and this led to people looking into his case, eventually setting him free.

"Prison is a dark place, and in a dark place, sometimes you lose your spirit,” Dixon said. “It took me about seven years to start drawing because I didn't have the spirit or determination to draw. When I started to draw, it brought me back to life, let's put it that way. It gave me the hope and inspiration I needed to get to this point right here."

He said he often spent up to 10 hours a day drawing.