Murals for Racial Justice
May 2021
The Murals for Racial Justice project, which commissioned 24 Black artists to create 22 temporary murals on boarded-up storefronts in downtown Indianapolis, started in June 2020 as an immediate response to the worldwide protests calling for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd and an end to police brutality.
The project has evolved to include Art and Activism, an exhibition at the Arts Council’s Gallery 924, co-curated by Murals for Racial Justice artists Israel Solomon and Matthew Cooper. Art and Activism is part of a collaboration among the Arts Council, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indianapolis Public Library to honor the one-year anniversary of Murals for Racial Justice. Support for Murals for Racial Justice and other related initiatives is provided by Glick Philanthropies. Visit Gallery 924 for more details on special programs and events.
The artists and murals are featured below.
Images courtesy of PATTERN
Kaila Austin: Murals installed on window glass at Tini, 717 Massachusetts Ave.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Shade’ Bell: Rejoice, mural originally installed at Homespun, 869 Massachusetts Ave.
Boxx the Artist: Do the Right Thing, mural originally installed at Union Station, 350 S. Meridian St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Matthew Cooper: Murals originally installed at Old City Hall, 202 N. Alabama St.
Images courtesy of PATTERN
Tashema Davis: Mural installed on window glass at the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ Gallery 924, 924 N. Pennsylvania St.
Ess McKee: The Future is Now, mural originally installed at Union Station, 350 S. Meridian St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Gary Gee: We the People, murals originally installed at Symphony Centre, 32 E. Washington St.
Michael ALKEMI Jordan: ENDANGERED species, mural originally installed at the IPL building, 1 Monument Circle
Images courtesy of PATTERN
Nasreen Khan: Murals originally installed at Schmidt Associates, 415 Massachusetts Ave., using (with permission) the words of:
Manon Voice and Malachi Carter
Images courtesy of PATTERN
Alana Lopez: Murals installed on chalkboards at Coat Check Coffee, 401 E. Michigan St. (inside the Athenaeum)
Latoya Marlin: Mural originally installed on the window glass at Macaron Bar, 425 Massachusetts Ave.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Mike Palmore Martin aka Kwazar: Mural originally installed at Kingmakers, 881 Massachusetts Ave.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Amiah Mims: Silenced, mural installed on window glass at 10 E. Washington St.
Andre Parnell: Resurrection Cradle, details from mural originally installed at Repro Graphix, 437 N. Illinois St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Quiana Quarles: Outlined in Black and White, mural originally installed at Union Station, 350 S. Meridian St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Omar Rashan: Do the Right Thing, mural originally installed at Pearl St. Pizzeria & Pub, 65 E. Pearl St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Rebecca Robinson: New Nation, mural originally installed at Union Station, 350 S. Meridian St.
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Mechi Shakur: Mural originally installed at Indianapolis Repertory Theater, 140 W. Washington St
Image courtesy of PATTERN
Israel Solomon: For George, mural originally installed at F.C. Tucker Co., 342 Massachusetts Ave.
Aaron “Ezi” Underwood aka Starboy Xio: Red Face, Blue Face, mural originally installed at Chatterbox Jazz Club, 435 Massachusetts Ave.
Terry Wilson: Murals originally installed at Lacy Distribution Inc., 54 Monument Circle
Shane “FITZ” Young: No More Guns, mural originally installed at Nurture Baby and Child, 433 Massachusetts Ave.
The Murals for Racial Justice project was initially organized by the Arts Council, Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc., PATTERN, St’ArtUp 317, and cultural entrepreneur Malina Simone Jeffers. The original plan was to exhibit the murals along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, but the plywood's fragility made it unsuitable for long-term outdoor display. To document the murals’ historic and artistic significance, PATTERN produced the high-quality images that were produced on 3-feet by 5-feet vinyl banners that individuals can reserve, at no cost, through the Indianapolis Public Library for public and private events. More info at indypl.org
The copyright to each mural, as well as the physical mural itself, belongs to the artist who created it. Any use of the mural in public or in reproduction by the Arts Council and their partner organizations has been expressly approved and licensed by the artist. Others who wish to promote the murals or use an image of a mural commercially must work with the artists to determine a fee appropriate to the context of the use. We are providing artist contact information for the convenience of their future partners and patrons.
