The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is proud to present We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective. The Eighteen Art Collective was formed in the summer of 2020 after 18 Indianapolis-based Black artists were commissioned to paint a 30-foot tall Black Lives Matter street mural on historic Indiana Avenue. The Collective’s launch was supported by GANGGANG, an Indianapolis-based cultural development firm that works to bring more beauty, equity, and culture to cities.  

The Eighteen were brought together by a shared moment of activism, but their artistic practices are diverse in concept, intent, and medium. Artworks in the exhibition address subjects as varied as religion and spirituality, queer identity, joy, hip-hop culture, materiality, art history, nature, and social justice. While the exhibition showcases the collective, its goal is to introduce the artists as individuals and creative professionals beyond their roles in the street mural, and to highlight the immense pool of artistic talent active in Indianapolis.