Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

Grounded in the deeply personal experiences and stories of their heritage, the Indiana State Museum’s new Rich Soil exhibition features works by minority artists.

Open from Oct. 5-Dec. 1 on the third-floor Thomas A. King Bridge Gallery, the exhibition is presented in partnership with the Minority Arts Program for Success.

The year-long program is designed to help artists of color advance their professional presence in Indianapolis’ art scene. As part of this year’s inaugural cohort, 21 Indiana minority artists were selected based on a demonstrated need and artistic ability. Furthering the museum’s ongoing commitment to supporting Indiana’s working artists, the museum hosted a series of guided workshops aimed at helping the artists build their business skills and establish a network of local support to further their work.

Rich Soil is the culmination of that professional development process, and visitors will see a variety of artworks throughout the exhibition that all tap into that central theme, which was chosen by the artists. From paintings and photographs to drawings and digital illustrations, each piece represents part of the artist’s heritage and a unique perspective that’s rooted in their culture, race and upbringing.

“With the Rich Soil, we are looking forward to exposing a varied collection of works from artist with diverse backgrounds,” said Marisa Zambrano, project manager for the Minority Arts Program for Success. “We want the mainstream Indy’s arts scene to see the diverse cultures within our community that also belong to this scene and have the talent and know-how to earn their place within it.”

Rich Soil is free for Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites members and included with regular admission.