64 artworks sold for $154,190; The Indianapolis Children’s Museum and The Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University acquire pieces for permanent collections; 100% of artwork sales go back to artists

INDIANAPOLIS (September 9, 2024) – Organized by creative advocacy agency GANGGANG, the fourth iteration of BUTTER Fine Art Fair presented the work of 60 exhibiting artists, three galleries, and six curators, including Mali Bacon, Alan Bacon, Deonna Craig, and guest curators Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Chicago-based Kendall Hurns, and LA-based Nakeyta Moore, as a commitment to growing the arts ecosystem in Indianapolis and beyond. Taking place August 29–September 1, this year’s fair spotlighted the talent and perspectives of emerging and established artists from six cities in Indiana and from Catonsville (MD), Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York City, Norfolk, Portland, Racine, St. Louis, Windsor Mill, and Abuja, Nigeria.

BUTTER 2024 ARTWORK SALES + ACQUISITIONS
64 artworks sold, totaling $154,190
$2,409 average sales price per artwork

Notable sales and acquisitions this year include:

• Tyrese Haliburton, of the Indiana Pacers, acquired an Israel Solomon piece entitled Spades Game, 2024.
• The Indianapolis Children’s Museum acquired Saturday Morning, 2024, by FITZ.
• Kyra Epps, TV producer, acquired Gary Gee’s piece I See You King, 2024.
• Brandi Davis-Handy, President of AES Indiana, acquired an Ashley Nora painting entitled David, 2024. 
• The Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University Bloomington acquired artwork from BUTTER for the second time. The four works joining their collection are In a Fog, 2024, by Tashema Davis; To Dance, 2022, by Justin A. Carney; Yante, 2022, by Rosy Petri; and Unrequited, 2024, by Rebekah Gaillard.

BUTTER 2024 ATTENDANCE
12,200+ attendees (includes children)
728 people in attendance at Preview Night
210 artists, performers, DJs and staff
393 students touring during Education Day

Introducing a contemporary approach to equity and a new model for reparations in the arts, BUTTER invites guests to see and experience art in safe spaces, offering up a platform to address and advocate for the value and worth of Black artists.

Made possible by title sponsor AES Indiana, BUTTER returned to The Stutz factory building, serving up four days of live music and performance, discussions with esteemed panelists, interactive activations, and historic neighborhood walking tours. For a recap of the daily list of talks, live performances, and special appearances, visit butterartfair.com or follow @butterartfair on social media.

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 Fine Art Fair and I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll. For more information on the founding organization, visit www.ganggangculture.com or follow on social media @ganggangculture.

ABOUT BUTTER
The place where you can be yourself, BUTTER is a multi-day fine art fair that features artwork made by Black visual artists from Indiana and across the country. As described by Ebony, Forbes, and The New York Times, BUTTER serves as a new model for economic justice in the arts, aiming to sell or loan 100% of the exhibiting artworks, giving 100% of the proceeds to the artists. For more information about BUTTER, visit www.butterartfair.com or follow on social media @butterartfair.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:
BUTTER Collectors Page, which includes artwork pricing and availability.
BUTTER Media Kit, which includes new press materials and photography assets. 

BUTTER Artists Page, which includes bios and social media channels.

COMPARATIVE DATA:

BUTTER 2023 ARTWORK SALES + ACQUISITIONS
76 artworks sold, totaling $285,392
$3,605 average sales price per artwork
Four major institutions acquired BUTTER artwork for their permanent collections
BUTTER 2023 ATTENDANCE
11,000+ attendees (includes children and student tours)

682 people in attendance at Preview Night

200+ artists, performers, DJs and staff

BUTTER 2023 ADDITIONAL SALES
$60,500 total BUTTER Shop sales, from 2,200 transactions
15 “Walk & Talk” history tours by Sampson Levingston (425 adults), plus 6 student Education Day tours (403 students). People from as far away as Maryland, Texas, Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, California, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Montevideo, Toronto, and Cork, Ireland.

Media inquiries, including interview requests and buyer information:
Keri Kirschner, [email protected], (646) 717-2848