Born January 29th, 1985 – Washington D.C.

Aaron is a multi-disciplinary artist, Associate Professor and Kenneth E. Tyler Endowed Chair at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. He received his MFA from Northern Illinois University in 2013. Aaron has participated in international residencies and exhibitions and has received numerous awards for his work in printmaking, sculpture and installation including 2021 Black Box Press Foundation’s Art as Activism Grant. He is a 2022 and 2023 Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship semi-finalist and the recipient of the 2023 New Voices Fellowship from the International Print Center New York. His work can be found in the collections of The Janet Turner Print Museum, the Ino-cho Paper Museum in Kochi, Japan, The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, The Yekaterinburg Museum of Art in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the National Library of France, and the Artist Printmaker and Photographer Research Archive in the Museum of Texas Tech University among many other public and private collections. Aaron was a co-founder of the Sienna Collective for Students of Color in the Arts at the University of Arizona and in 2021 received the Provost Award for Innovations in Teaching as well as the College of Fine Arts Undergraduate Mentorship Award. Aaron’s hobbies change from year to year but currently include the cultivation of rare, terrestrial, African orchids. He is a husband, dog lover and workaholic.

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Amiah Mims is an ever-growing graphic designer, painter and muralist based in Indianapolis. She is a graduate of Kent State University where she majored in Visual Communication Design and minored in Photo Illustration. She is also a retired KSU collegiate level gymnast and MAC Champion.

Previously, Mims was a full-time Graphic Designer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, however, her need to invest more into her organic artistic talents motivated her to take a leap of faith and branch out on her own. Now she offers a wider range of her creative services under her newly-founded company, Works By Mimsy LLC.

Mims has always had the creative talent, but has only tapped into it with intention for the last two years. Learning to utilize her abilities to their full capacity has been an empowering journey so far and she looks forward to continuing her artistic exploration. To date, a few of her art career highlights include the Indy BLM Street Mural (2020), BUTTER 1 & 2 (2021-22), Sleek: The Art of the Helmet Exhibition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (2022), We.The Culture exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields (2022-23) and The Minutiae: A Solo Show at the Harrison Center (2023).

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Andrea is an international artist who is known for her dynamic and colorful abstract sculptures. She has been fortunate to exhibit her work all around the world and has been commissioned to design and build her sculptures in Museums, Hospitals, Community Centers, Businesses and for private art collectors. Her current body of work explores the conditioning of our minds and is a very personal journey through environmental, family, faith and social constructs.

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In 2012, Ashley graduated with a degree from Anderson University and started her career as a Chemist. In 2019, she made the bold decision to leave her career in science to pursue art full-time. Ashley captures real moments of human interaction through portraiture using multiple mediums to express different ideas. Ashley travels the world and creates public art for people in every economic and social background to experience. Ashley believes that impact is more important than income, and her desire is to impact communities through her gift and inspire others to follow their dreams and do the same.

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Philadelphia Based Visual Artist and Creative Director. Styles’ work is very rich in color and culture as he uses portraits and bold abstract elements to bring a lot of energy to the viewing experience. Primarily self taught with some formal art education at Art Institute of Philadelphia, Styles continues to push his creativity in a variety of mediums such as acrylic, digital, and multimedia. His work has been seen in partnership with Vice President Kamala Harris, EA MADDEN23, TOPPS, BET, HBO, NASCAR, MARVEL, Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and more! Styles continues to use his platform to highlight culture, bring people together and celebrate life in sports, entertainment through art.

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Deonna Craig is an Indianapolis based visual artist and the first Director of BUTTER Fine Art Fair. She graduated from Cathedral High School and DePauw University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Sociology.

As an entrepreneur, Deonna pursues her passions of community building, teaching, public speaking and visual art. Her artwork has been featured in various museums and galleries such as Newfields, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Indianapolis International Airport. She is also a published artist with credits to dozens of outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated.

Deonna is the 2021-2022 Visiting Artist at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the 2020-2021 Virtual Resident Artist at The Madam Walker Legacy Center. She is also the President of the Eighteen Art Collective comprised of the 18 artists that actualized the Black Lives Matter mural on Indiana Avenue in 2020.

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Ess McKee is an interdisciplinary visual artist native to Arizona, based in Indianapolis, IN. She has been involved in the Indy arts scene as a muralist, designer, studio manager, organizer, arts educator and curator for a decade. Inspired by an appreciation for graffiti art and hip hop culture, her artistic expression manifests in the form of abstract paintings, character illustrations, digital design, and the combination of all three within murals. She is a current member of The Eighteen, an art collective of 18 artists that created the Black Lives Matter Mural in Indianapolis, Indiana. ess is also an adjunct faculty member at the Herron School of Art & Design, and a resident artist at The Harrison Center for the Arts.

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Kenneth Hordge also known as FINGERCREATIONS creates artwork that captures the essence of his subjects and their intense emotions while embodying his unique artistic expression. Mostly known for his celebrity portraits including the late Bob Marley, 2pac, The Notorious BIG, and Mahammad Ali, Kenneth’s God-given talents have been the impetus of his inspiration. Kenneth is a self-taught visual artist and continues to use his unique medium of oil pastels, drywall, and broken glass while creating with just his “fingers”. Artist Kenneth Hordge has been featured at Saks Fifth Avenue, BrunchNGrooves, Belles N Blow Ties, CCI First Fridays, The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Indianapolis Arts Center, and The Indianapolis Public Library, Meet The Artists & Hip Hop Anthology, Fox 59, and the Indianapolis Star. Kenneth is also a proud member of the art collective The Eighteen Art Collective which created the Black Lives Matter Mural on Historic Indiana Avenue in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter Movement.

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FITZ (American, b. 1993) is a self-taught artist born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. He is a cartoonist, surrealist, and and creates abstractions from pop culture to tell stories in the hopes that they can be relatable to a universal audience.

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Gary Gee (Indianapolis, IN) he is an artist who is multi faceted work is centered in drawing, but extends to painting, Ceramics, mixed media, murals, and installations. As a young person, Gee was inspired by the character J.J. Evans on the show Good Times- and Artisse with a signature style and sense of humor – whose on screen paintings, Gee discovered, were actually created by the artist Ernie Barnes. Drawing from a wide range of cultural references, from early rap and hip-hop culture to German expressionism, Gee’s work, reflects his interest in urban architecture, art history, and travel. His ongoing series of Handcast, Ceramic, heads and skulls, demonstrates his continuing fascination with materials, incorporating multiple layers of glazes and luster finishes, along with acrylic and spray paint ornamentation.

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Harriet Watson was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in December of 1994. She was adopted and grew up in in Greencastle, Indiana. She grew a passion for non-conformity, including not doing what society expects of a biracial female. Many of her early works are self-portraits, depicting herself in different environments, often surrealist with vibrant colors, and using oil or acrylic paint. After spending two years at Ohio Wesleyan University studying art and psychology, and nearly two years at Herron School of Art and Design, she finished her degree at Indiana University, Bloomington, with a BA in psychology in 2020. After graduating from IU in 2020, Harriet was placed alongside 17 other Black artists from Indianapolis and painted the “A” in “Matter” in the #BlackLivesMatter mural on Indiana Avenue. Afterwards, she created Harriet Watson Art, LLC. in order to create and sell her tie-dye art which included hand painted logos that read “Know Justice, Know Peace”. Harriet enjoys painting portraits with acrylics and draws inspiration from Black female artists from the 70s, such as Adrian Piper and Faith Ringgold. Most recently, Harriet has stepped into the Indianapolis art scene and has created several murals using acrylic and spray paint around the city and state in collaboration with local businesses and universities. She continues to practice visual art, often switching between spray paint and acrylic paintings. Harriet believes that art is necessary for society to understand each other by expressing themselves without shame or stigma, and that art can be used as a universal language to reach that goal.

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An accomplished Mid-Western artist/ educator earned her Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Ball State University Muncie, Indiana. Her love of Art, family, and community came to India at an early age when her Mother concentrated on the family being close, exposure to the arts, and strong family beliefs. At the very early age of three, India created art far above her years, as her mother encouraged her to experiment with art; working with various materials. Although in her early adult years, she was far more of a perfectionist. The imperfect edges of the tapestry of torn papers were not yet a part of her works, but a smooth and more sophisticated style dominated her work till her early twenties. Marriage and starting a family, India still possessed the need for Art, and her unique style started to emerge with limited time to paint. In 1993 she decided to exhibit her art publicly again and pursue a career as a professional artist. India’s art is exhibited throughout the Midwest including several Indiana and Illinois venues. Museums, Hospitals, Art Galleries, Universities, both Public and Private, across the country. India has served as an Indiana Arts Commissioner, Legislative Arts Advocacy Council, Humanities and Racial Equality member, Art Museum Board, Art Teacher, and has served on several state and local committees, for many years. Her works are brilliant with color, and it is from her childhood memories growing up in Indiana, she began to paint and create multi-layered, multi-textured representations of the people in her life.

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Israel Solomon is a visual artist whose studio and practice is based primarily within Indianapolis, Indiana. His creative journey began when he was a child in his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana. Inspired by his father and older brother, Israel took an interest in drawing at a young age and began drawing his favorite cartoon characters. His interest in visual art continued throughout his years in grade school, and he to obtain a degree in art education at Ball State University in 2003. Israel did not move directly into the world of visual art after college, however through determination and a consistent work ethic, he eventually fully transitioned his career into a professional artist in 2020; believing that consistency focus, and communication is the path to success. Israel now works as an acrylic painter, muralist, graphic designer, and educator. His artwork showcases his continuous development and understanding of color, form and shape. Israel has worked with groups such as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Eli Lilly, Indy Parks, Major League Soccer, Marian University, and was a featured artist with Jack Daniels Honey. He has also received a variety of awards and grants through organizations such as St. Paul’s Indy, The Indianapolis Arts Council, and the Efroymson Family Fund. Israel has also displayed his work in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio. His plan is to continue to grow and develop as an artist, and have his work displayed at galleries, fairs, expos and museums across the country.

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Dr. Jarrod Nicholas Dortch is part of a movement of Black artists and curators shining light on Black culture. He is a founding member of “The Eighteen,” a collective of local artists who made history by painting the #BlackLivesMatter mural on historic Indiana Avenue in Downtown Indianapolis. His work has been exhibited in Newfields, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, IUPUI’s Herron School of Art, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Indianapolis Art Center and various other gallery spaces. He has also worked with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Lilly Day of Service to design and implement large scale murals. Currently one of Dortch’s early mixed-media works can be viewed on a Circle Centre Mall storefront. With roots in art, community, and education, Dr. Dortch is leveraging these disciplines to help promote personal and communal growth one exhibition at a time.

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John Canon is an award winning hip hop photographer and creative based Atlanta born and raised in Indianapolis. For almost a decade he has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop while also working with some of the biggest brands in the world.

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John Moore strives to create transformative art, combing symbols, colors, and the philosophy of the ready-made to document and critique the status quo and encourage the viewer to pause and reflect.

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Johnson Simon is an artist, mentor, and disability activist. As an artist with a disability, his movement impacts him daily, and his artwork explores how he would move freely and uninterrupted. Simon is fascinated with the human body’s movement, especially that of dancers and athletes. In his paintings, he uses heavy, gestural lines and vibrant color juxtapositions to emulate that motion and flare, a conscious effort to transfer the graceful display of physical expression and athleticism. Simon marks the human body as, “both complicated and elegant,” crediting motion as what makes it, “a vessel unlike any other in this world.”

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Jonah Elijah, a native of Houston’s Third Ward, Texas, his work transcends time, drawing upon his personal memories and upbringing. Within his narratives, he delves deep into identity, through mediums of portraiture, language, and mass media. Elijah engages with the past, employing found objects charged with meaning, such as sneakers, televisions, and artifacts, as symbolic metaphors for the dynamic experiences they represent. Elijah received his BA in Studio Art from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2017. Since receiving his MFA from Claremont Graduate University in 2020, his studio practice has progressed through residencies such as Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Virginia where he created his Virginia Series, responding to the center’s historical land in the foothills of Blue-ridge Mountains in Amherst & VCCA, France where he created his reflexion series taking multiple hand held mirrors & painting individual portraits of family & friends from his day to day. Further inviting viewers into his personal narrative, Elijah continues to explore memory and identity. Through this, he highlights the joy within Black culture.

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Kevin Nance West is a professional fine artist, art entrepreneur in the Indianapolis area, specializing in contemporary abstract paintings and representational portrait art of young African American children. Kevin studied at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis prior to exploring business ventures in art. (Early initiatives included teaching art classes at the Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis and hosting private portrait painting workshops, Founder of Gifted Custom Art (Art Technology Company). (Kevin, a cancer survivor, has not let life’s obstacles stop him. Rather, they have fueled the passion for his craft. His larger than life art is filled with colorful lines of emotion dancing across the canvas.) In his twenty years as a professional artist, Kevin has experimented with a variety of mediums and concepts including mixed media and Oil Painting. His abstract portrait art done with acrylics and oil pastels are figures of pop culture, Black influencers and children.

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Born and raised in West Philly, King Saladeen is a world-renowned, entirely self-taught artist known for his mastery of vibrant colors and abstract contemporary art. His work spans from murals, airport installations, and fine art to vinyl toys, apparel, and custom-painted luxury cars. Today, he is most notably recognized for his iconic “Money Bear” His work began to attract the attention of the art world in 2013 and by 2014 he had his first solo shows in LA and Miami. Since then he has worked beside some of today’s most iconic contemporary artists including Ron English, Futura, Mad Steez, Seventh Letter, Rob Prior, Mr. Brainwash, and Karen Bystedt. His work has been exhibited at the NYSE, the Philadelphia International Airport, Neiman Marcus, São Paulo Museum of Art, ComplexCon, Shenzhen Toyz Festival, and more. He also recently did collaborations with Listerine and Lamborghini. He is also an avid philanthropist and spends a great deal of time giving back to the community that helped raise him. Saladeen openly credits his success as an artist to his late best friend, JP, who pushed him to pursue his passion and insisted that with teamwork, a little bit of faith, and the support of your family, anything is possible.

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Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Kyng Rhodes stands as a contemporary artist whose work transcends the canvas, radiating with vibrancy, color, and profound expressiveness. Born with a natural inclination towards the arts, Kyng has evolved into a creator whose distinctive style captivates audiences and invites them into a world where every stroke of the brush is a testament to the rich tapestry of life.

Kyng’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in the intricate blend of his own experiences, spirituality, and a keen observation of the world around him. It serves as a visual symphony, echoing the myriad hues of the human experience. The essence of Kyng’s art lies in its bold and captivating colors, a reflection of the kaleidoscope of emotions he draws inspiration from. His canvases come alive with the intensity of his palette, each stroke infused with a passion that transcends the two-dimensional realm. In a world often characterized by monotony, Kyng’s work serves as a resplendent oasis, a testament to the beauty inherent in the human experience.

Fauna and floral motifs dance across Kyng’s creations, adding an organic dimension to his vibrant compositions. His subjects, bathed in glowing spotlights, take center stage, emphasizing the significance of moments and experiences that have left an indelible mark on his soul. Through this interplay of light and form, Kyng skillfully guides the viewer’s gaze to the heart of his narratives, inviting them to explore the depths of his artistic vision.

At the core of Kyng’s artistic philosophy is a commitment to authenticity and a celebration of lived experiences. His works serve as visual diaries, documenting the highs and lows of his own journey and offering a mirror through which viewers can reflect on their own narratives. This authenticity is what infuses his art with a timeless quality, resonating across diverse audiences and transcending cultural boundaries.

Kyng’s art is not merely a visual spectacle; it is a call to attention, a beckoning to recognize the beauty in the ordinary and the extraordinary alike. His compositions, heavily grounded in reality, serve as a bridge between the tangible and the intangible, inviting viewers to see the world through his eyes.

In the realm of contemporary art, Kyng Rhodes stands as a beacon of creativity, a testament to the transformative power of expression. His work, characterized by its vivid hues, organic motifs, and spiritual undercurrents, invites viewers on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. Rhodes’ has mentioned and his work has been featured in several publications including Ebony, Forbes , and New York Times. Through his art, Kyng Rhodes continues to illuminate reality, one stroke at a time.

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Lavett Ballard is a Mixed Media Visual Artist, Art historian, Curator, and Author. She holds a dual Bachelor’s in Studio Art and Art History with a minor in Museum Studies from Rutgers University, and an MFA in Studio Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Ballard’s art has been commissioned as a cover twice for Time Magazine first in March 2020 for their special multi cover edition for the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and in February 2023 for a cover and interior art for Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson’s essay about her book CASTE: Origins of our Discontent. Some of her accolades is a Yaddo Fellow Artist residency in 2021, in 2023 a NJ State Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, and in 2018 Pew fellowship nomination. Ballard’s artwork has been used in film, television, and literary publications in addition to being acquired by many private and public institutional collections nationally and internationally.

Some of her private art collectors include the author Roxanne Gay, actor Hill Harper, Grant & Tamia Hill collection, the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection. Her work has been acquisitioned by the Francis M. Maguire Museum, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, the Colored Girls Museum, the U.S. Art in the Embassies, the Conrad Hotel collection, Indianapolis, IN, St Joseph’s University, Syracuse Universities- Community Folk Arts Center, and Jule Collins Smith Fine Art Museum at Auburn University Collections among many others.

Ballard views her art as a re-imagined visual narrative of people of African descent. Her use of imagery reflects social issues affecting primarily Black women’s stories within a historical context. Her current body of work uses collaged photos adorned with paint, oil pastels, and metallic foils. These photos are deconstructed and layered on reclaimed large and small aged wood fences. The use of fences is a symbolic reference to how fences keep people in and out, just as racial and gender identities can do the same socially. This fusion of wood and photography offers artwork that both explores her southern roots, yet visually speaks volumes to continuing themes within her community.

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Mason Archie, originally from Dayton, Ohio, now proudly calls Indianapolis, Indiana, his home. His artistic journey unfolded, serving over 15 years as the Art Director and pictorial artist for Lamar Outdoor Advertising where he cultivated his skills as a pictorial artist and later founded Vital Sign, a commercial sign company. Notably, he became a subcontract for Lamar. In 2005, Mason transitioned to full-time fine artist, quickly gaining recognition for his mastery of traditional realism. Using quality materials and drawing on techniques learned from studying the old masters, he became a luminary in the art world. He exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Schuster Art Center, The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, The Indiana State Museum, The Haan Museum, The Charles H. Wright Museum, The David C. Driskell Center, The National African American Museum Cultural Center, The Indianapolis Art Center, The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and Herron Galleries. Among his numerous accolades, Mason was featured in The International Review of African American Art, American Art Collector, American Lifestyle Magazine, Black Art in America, and The American Art Review. Mason is the recipient of the 2007 Creative Renewal Fellowship from The Art Council of Indianapolis/Lilly Endowment and the 2020 DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award. His consistent recognition in prestigious competitions, including a perennial award winner from 2007 – 2009 and 2023 in the Hoosier Salon’s Annual Juried Exhibit, Artist of Distinction Award in the Indiana Artist Club Members Exhibit (both are two of the oldest competitions in the country), and the 2023 Haan Museum “Generations” Invitational Best of Show Award underscores his enduring impact. Mason’s works are in corporate and institutional collections, including The Indiana State Museum, The Richmond Art Museum, The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American Art, Nationwide Corporation, Wells Fargo, Lilly Endowment, Elanco (a Division of Eli Lilly), Eskenazi Health, and Community South Hospital. His artwork is also in private collections across the country.

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Pope Gaskine – Billy Hoodoo , a native of Indianapolis, is a multidisciplinary artist and a member of the Eighteen Art Collective. His diverse body of work is largely influenced by synesthesia, a phenomenon where sensory experiences are combined; esthesia, a heightened sensitivity to feelings; and his deep-rooted spirituality. Pope firmly believes that art should stimulate thought and stir emotions. And expresses that through his creations. He is a museum-exhibited artist, featured in “WE. The Culture,” an exhibition curated by GangGang for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Additionally, he has two ongoing features at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum in collaboration with the Eighteen Art Collective. Pope has curated, organized, and participated in several murals, galleries, award events, and more, primarily in his hometown of Indianapolis, but also in various other cities.

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Born and raised in Newark New Jersey. Professional artist for 11 years as well as a art educator and art activist. Rae is a LGBTQ proud visual artist with a strong foundation in graphic design, apparel design, Hip Hop and graffiti. Rae’s work has grown in Indianapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles. A renaissance innovator always creating their own path to follow their heart.

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Award-winning mixed media Artist Rebecca Robinson creates impactful artwork, specifically with concrete and tar. Her strategic use of texture and contrast creates various subjects and themes that continue to evoke emotion and spark dialogue while enriching the community and contributing to the culture. Rebecca is an Indianapolis native and studied Art/Visual Communications at the Historically Black College North Carolina Central University. Rebecca’s background includes art history, photography, film, fashion, and creative marketing/branding. She is also a self-published author of the inspirational book for creatives titled “Arts Honor”. Rebecca’s artwork has been featured in dozens of media outlets including; Indianapolis Business Journal Podcast, NPR NEWS, PBS, WFYI, NUVO, Pattern Magazine, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Recorder, WTHR 13, WISH-TV 8. RTV 6, FOX 59, Creative Mornings Indianapolis, Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, Carmel Magazine, The Arts Council of Indianapolis, and The National Endowment Of The Arts. In 2018, Rebecca co-produced the award-winning documentary film “The Color of Medicine”: The Story Of Homer G. Phillips Hospital as a tribute to her father and grandfather’s legacy in the medical field. Rebecca is also a proud member of The Kurt Vonnegut Museum Planning Committee, The Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival Advisory Committee, The Art Center Of Indianapolis Board Of Directors, The Indianapolis Cabaret Board of Directors, and the African American History Committee Advisory Board for the Indianapolis Public Library. Rebecca is also a member of the art collectives WE ARE INDY ARTS, The EIGHTEEN, and Penrod Circle City Creatives. Rebecca currently has an art residency at The Harrison Center Indianapolis.

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Shamira Wilson is an interdisciplinary visual artist and farmer. She creates minimal artwork inspired by the geometry of plants. Plants speak in signs and symbols which she translates with paint. She holds a BA in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University and has studied Furniture Design and Woodworking at the Herron School of Art and Design. Nature is her wellness modality. Her current exhibitions include the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. She has exhibited nationally and internationally at the Haystack Mountain School of the Arts residency in Deer Isle, ME, and the Art for Change residency in New Delhi, India. She is a member of Impact 100 and The Eighteen Artist Collective. Her permanent installations can be seen at various locations across Indiana including the Indiana State Museum, Eskenazi Health Hospital, and the Indianapolis Artsgarden.

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My creative journey spans the realms of both traditional and digital mediums. My current artistic expressions are best described as a fusion of Afrofuturism, a genre that delves into the rich tapestry of African and African American cultures while infusing elements of science fiction, fantasy, and Afrocentrism. In my body of work, I unite my deep admiration for the human form with bold colors and intricate patterns. Through this fusion, I aim to celebrate the exquisite beauty of Black men and women. My ultimate artistic objective is to illuminate and honor the profound beauty within the Black community, inviting viewers to appreciate and cherish the richness of this beauty through the unique lens of my art.

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Will Watson, born in 1987 in Indianapolis, IN, is a distinguished artist whose journey has been marked by a profound commitment to his craft and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence. He received his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from The Maryland Institute College of Art’s prestigious LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting in Baltimore, MD, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis in 2011.

With a passion for engaging with communities and inspiring young minds, Watson has had the distinct honor of serving as a keynote speaker for various youth and community engagement initiatives. His powerful presence has graced events hosted by esteemed organizations such as the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the Maryland State Education Association, and the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Community Arts Virtual Power Speakers Series. Additionally, he has shared his insights and experiences at the Stone Quarry Arts Park in Cazenovia, NY.

Watson’s dedication to his craft has earned him the Leslie King Hammond Graduate Fellowship, a recognition of his exceptional talent and commitment to the arts. His work has been showcased in select group exhibitions at renowned venues, including Sperone Westwater in New York, NY, and the Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC. In 2022, Watson presented a solo exhibition of his works created during his residency on Governor’s Island at Ed Varie Gallery in New York, NY, as part of NADA House.

In 2023, Watson’s solo exhibition, hosted by Freight and Volume Gallery in Tribeca, NYC, participated in the esteemed Future Fair, solidifying his status as a prominent emerging contemporary artist. His contributions extend beyond the art world, as he has dedicated his time to nurturing the next generation of artists, teaching and creating alongside young students in Baltimore City’s Public Schools. He now continues his impactful work, teaching and mentoring young adult artists in New York City.

Will Watson’s artistic journey is an evolving testament to his creative spirit and commitment to the arts. His distinctive style and dedication to fostering artistic growth make him a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene.

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