INDIANAPOLIS (August 9, 2023) – For its 2023 edition, BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair will bring together 49 emerging and established artists, presenting intentional artworks across all media – from painting and sculpture to photography and performance. A strong line-up of galleries will also participate this year, presenting specially curated artwork by eight of the national artists. As described by The New York Times, BUTTER serves as a new model for economic justice in the arts, aiming to sell or loan 100% of the artwork, giving 100% of the proceeds to artists.
“BUTTER is deepening its commitment to equity, artist care, and building new arts infrastructures at the local level by expanding the curatorial team, establishing curated presentations, and launching new collecting initiatives for the fair’s third edition in 2023.” said Braydee Euliss, Director of Curatorial Affairs.
The 2023 fair will present work from 49 artists including 35 first-time BUTTER participants from Indiana and across the country.
INDIANA ARTISTS
- Aaron S. Coleman is a multi-disciplinary artist, Associate Professor and Kenneth E. Tyler Endowed Chair at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis.
- Andrea Fear is an artist who works across sculpture and public art.
- Antonio McAfee is a photographer based in Richmond, IN.
- Ash Robinson is an American artist and designer based in Indianapolis.
- Ashley Nora is a painter and muralist based in Indianapolis.
- Ayanna Tibbs is an African American multi-disciplined artist based in the Midwest.
- Beatrice Opokua Atencah is a fiber, sculpture, and installation artist and an educator born in the Eastern region of Ghana and now living in Bloomington, Indiana.
- Brian Hollis is a self-taught portrait, fine art, fashion, and street photographer originally from the Eastside of Indianapolis.
- Caleb Poer is a self-taught artist based in Bloomington, Indiana.
- Chris Hill is an artist making photo-based work, born in Oklahoma and based in Indy.
- Christopher Newell is a Chicago-born photographer and educator based in Indianapolis.
- Desi Brown is a multiethnic artist born in Cheyenne, WY, now based in Indiana.
- Kenneth Hordge, known as FINGERCREATIONS, is an artist born and based in Indianapolis.
- FITZ is a self-taught artist born and raised in Indianapolis.
- Gary Gee is an Indianapolis-based visual artist working in mixed media, ceramics, and murals.
- Harriet Watson is an artist and muralist based in Indianapolis.
- India Cruse Griffin is an American painter and educator based in Richmond, IN.
- John Moore is an interdisciplinary artist based in Indianapolis, IN.
- Joshua A.M. Ross is an artist who explores the interplay between drawing and photography, currently based in Indianapolis.
- Julian Jamaal Jones is a fiber artist and educator born and based in Indianapolis.
- Justin A. Carney is an artist and educator working in autobiographical photography, currently based in Indiana.
- Karen R. Pope is an interdisciplinary artist working with language and truth, currently based in Indianapolis.
- Kyng Rhodes is a painter based in Indianapolis.
- LaShawnda Crowe Storm is a mixed media artist, activist, community builder, and occasional urban farmer, based in Indianapolis.
- Matthew Cooper is a self-taught artist and painter born and based in Indianapolis.
- Miss Jaws is Jessica Garcia, an artist from Florida and currently based in Indianapolis.
- TASHA BECKWITH is an artist and painter born and based in Indianapolis.
- Terrible Tony is a mixed-media artist born and based in South Bend, IN.
- Yeabsera Tabb is a multi-disciplinary artist who draws inspiration from her African heritage.
NATIONAL ARTISTS
- Amber Robles-Gordon is an interdisciplinary visual artist of Puerto Rican and West Indian heritage, who lives and works in Washington, D.C.
- April Bey grew up in The Bahamas (New Providence) and now resides and works in Los Angeles, CA as a visual artist and art educator.
- Bianca Walker is a 25-year-old, nonbinary painter from the Bay Area, California, now working in New Orleans.
- Brochevski (Amai Rawls Jr.) is a self-taught artist born and based in Louisville, KY.
- DELISHA is an interdisciplinary artist currently based on the Westside of Chicago.
- Estéban Whiteside is a self-taught artist based in Washington D.C.
- Jay McKay is a self-taught artist and muralist from New Orleans.
- Menika Lue was born in New York and raised in Orlando by a Jamaican mother and Jamaican-Chinese father. She is an artist currently based in New York City.
- Donny Bradfield, better known as Shabez Jamal, is an interdisciplinary artist based in New Orleans.
- $hady, also known as Shadé Bell or “Shady the Art Lady”, is an artist born in Indianapolis and currently based in Washington, D.C.
- Trotter is a visual and culinary artist based in Detroit, MI.
- Will Watson is a painter, educator, and Indianapolis native now based in New York City.
EXHIBITING GALLERIES
- Long-Sharp Gallery representing Nigerian-born, New York-based painter Móyòsóré Martins and Lavett Ballard, a mixed-media artist who describes her work as a re-imagined visual narrative of people of African descent
- Hoy Polloy representing Angelbert Metoyer, an artist exploring social history through philosophy and religion
- KUABA Gallery representing Ablade Glover, Nyornuworfia Agorsor, Patrick Tagoe-Turkson, and Betty Acquah
- Pigment International (Chicago) representing Dwight White II, a Chicago-based multidisciplinary creative
Malina Simone Bacon and Alan Bacon will serve as Curators and Creative Directors for the fair. The curatorial team also includes Indiana-based curators Alyse Tucker Bounds and Greg Rose, along with Guest Curator Kia Davis, founder of KKURATED Creative Agency.
In 2022, BUTTER welcomed 8,000+ attendees, selling 109 artworks for a combined total of $250,000 during the four-day fair, with post-sales reaching an additional $210,000. To date, BUTTER is responsible for more than $500,000 in artwork sales, maximizing the earnings of 72 Black artists by giving them all the proceeds for their work.
BUTTER, made possible by top sponsors like AES Indiana, Newfields, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will take place from September 1 to September 3, with Preview Night on August 31 at The Stutz building in downtown Indianapolis. Tickets are on sale at www.butterartfair.com as are details on the program of events. General Admission tickets are $40, which includes unlimited access to all three days. Preview Night tickets are $175 and include General Admission weekend return access. Students 18 and under are free.
About GANGGANG
GANGGANG is a creative advocacy agency based in Indianapolis working to center culture, equity, and beauty in cities through major initiatives like BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair. For more information on the founding organization, visit www.ganggangculture.com or follow on social media @ganggangculture. For more information on BUTTER, visit www.butterartfair.com or follow on social @butterartfair.
FOR MEDIA:
Media inquiries, including artist interview requests, advance tours, and photography:
Keri Kirschner, [email protected], (646) 717-2848
BUTTER Press Credentials will be issued to journalists with advance notice. To get on the press pass list, please email: Keri Kirschner, [email protected]
For BUTTER video footage, visit: https://vimeo.com/user/38369570/folder/15519165
For Official BUTTER media kit, visit: https://butterartfair.com/2023-media-kit/
