FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2025
Media Contact:
Jennifer Darby, Chief of Staff
Indiana Black Expo
jdarby@indianablackexpo.com
(317) 441-3522
Indiana Black Expo Unveils Immersive Cultural Arts During 2025 Summer Celebration
Art gallery, Interactive exhibits, live performances, fashion, music, improv and fine art take center stage July 18–20 at the Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN – Indiana Black Expo (IBE) is proud to announce the return of its Cultural Arts Pavilion, a dynamic, immersive experience celebrating Black creativity, heritage, and innovation as part of the 2025 Summer Celebration. The Pavilion will be held July 18–20 at the Indiana Convention Center, Rooms 143–144, and is free and open to the public.
IBE’s Cultural Arts Pavilion is a one-of-a-kind collaboration among Indianapolis’ leading arts and cultural institutions — including the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Newfields, Indianapolis Public Library, Harrison Center, Indiana State Museum, Indiana Historical Society, Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indiana African American Genealogy Group — united to create something truly unprecedented: a shared space that centers, celebrates, and elevates Black art, artists, and cultural expression. Alongside this historic institutional partnership, the Pavilion proudly features the work of emerging and established Black visual artists, designers, performers, and authors from across Indiana and beyond. Their creativity, stories, and contributions are the heartbeat of this experience.
“Nowhere else in the city — or the state — will you find this level of collective artistic power and cultural storytelling under one roof,” shared Alice Watson, IBE President & CEO. “For nearly four decades, this groundbreaking space has honored the rich legacy and ongoing impact of Black artists through fine art, performance, history, fashion, music, and genealogy. The Cultural Arts Pavilion is more than an exhibit gallery — it is a cultural movement and a powerful reminder of the creativity that continues to shape our communities and future,” added Watson.
With the support of sponsors including the Indy Arts Council, Penrod Society, Arthur Jordan Foundation, Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, Noyes Foundation, and the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative, this year’s Pavilion features an expansive array of visual art, live performances, fashion showcases, author talks, musical performances and interactive experiences designed to inspire and engage all ages.
Gallery Exhibitions & Featured Artists
The Cultural Arts Pavilion highlights exhibitions from leading cultural institutions, including:
- Arts Council of Indianapolis – From the Inside Out by Kierra Ready, exploring joy as a spiritual and communal force.
- Newfields – A Celebration of Strength, Creativity, and Beauty, featuring a preview of Alma Thomas’s Smithsonian exhibition.
- Indianapolis Public Library – Meet the Artists, curated by Anthony Radford, showcasing emerging and established Black artists.
- Harrison Center – The Greatriarchs of Martindale Brightwood.
- Indiana State Museum – REPRESENT: Indiana’s Black Artists.
- Indiana Historical Society – Pro Basketball in Indiana.
- Eiteljorg Museum – Featuring the multidimensional works of Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl, an Alaskan Indigenous artist.
- Indiana African American Genealogy Group – Research Your Roots, a hands-on genealogy exploration.
Featured visual artists include:
- Tanía Michelle Wineglass – Lost and Found, an interactive journey through healing and transformation.
- Faith Blackwell – We Are The Culture: Fashion Meets Basketball, a fusion of sports and self-expression.
- India Cruse-Griffin – The Power in Family, celebrating legacy through collage and acrylics.
- Cierra Johnson – Circle City Made, community-based visual storytelling.
- Amira Alquraishy – The Dreamer Has No Finish Line, a hopeful look at ambition and identity.
Group Exhibit – Court Vision: The Art of Resilience and Excellence
Curated by Arthentic Arts (ARTs), this All-Star edition exhibition features over 30 regional artists exploring Black excellence at the intersection of sports, art, and empowerment.
Art Speaks Café & Interactive Experiences
The Art Speaks Café offers a rich schedule of live music, spoken word, book talks, author spotlights, and artist panels featuring many of the Pavilion’s exhibiting creatives.
Unplugged Sessions will spotlight musical acts like Cleöcrt Daniels, TRULY G, Saintman Lafare, and more.
Performance Line-Up Highlights:
Reckless Rhymacide, Verbal i Music, Queen Quaymo, Brandon Gerrod, Jean the Poet, Corey Bapes, and dozens of other spoken word and musical artists will perform throughout the weekend.
Interactive Highlight – Sneaker Bar (Free for First 100 Participants!)
Participants can customize their own sneakers with paint, stencils, and guidance from local artists in this unique hands-on station presented in partnership with BOXX the Artist.
Inside the Exhibition Hall: Style Zone, Live Entertainment, Fashion Show & Hair Competition
Style Zone: Where Fashion Meets Fame
Saturday, July 19 | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | Hall F, Booth 1307 | Free
Hosted by Nikki Blaine Couture, CoCo Cuffie, and Thiery Baptist this curated pop-up market and fashion lab features guest appearances, live styling sessions, and exclusive pieces. Special guest: Claire Sulmers, founder and CEO of Fashion Bomb Daily
Live Performance by Jacob Latimore
Saturday, July 19 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM | Entertainment Stage, Hall F | Free
Actor and acclaimed R&B recording artist Jacob Latimore will light up the Entertainment Stage with a live performance. Latimore, star of the hit Showtime series The Chi, has appeared in films like Ride Along, The Maze Runner, Collateral Beauty, and Detroit. Named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019, he continues to make waves in music with over 100 million streams. His fifth studio album, JL, dropped May 2, 2025, and he’ll be performing live at IBE.
Fashion Show featuring BruceGlen Pop Up Store and Platinum League
Saturday, July 19 | 4:00 – 5:30 PM | Entertainment Stage, Hall F | Free
Hosted by The Fabulous Mr. Patrick and powered by Passion4Fashion, this year’s fashion show Fashion, designs by Elan Furs, Nikki Blaine Couture, Luvlotss High Fashion, Creo by Keca, and more, plus a special appearances by BruceGlen and the Platinum League.
Identical twins Bruce and Glen Proctor — known collectively as BruceGlen — are dynamic fashion designers and ministers from Washington, D.C., widely recognized as the “Fashion Preachers.” Their vibrant brand is celebrated for its electric use of color, bold prints, and signature metal hardware, merging high fashion with spiritual purpose. Before launching their own label, the duo honed their skills working on celebrity fashion projects for icons like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. In 2019, they reimagined BruceGlen as a sustainable, ready-to-wear fashion house. Since then, their striking collections have been featured at major fashion showcases including New York Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week.
This one-of-a-kind improv show is full of culture, community, and laughs on top of laughs. This year’s show has been curated and handcrafted for people of all ages, with our city’s teens as the focal point. Join the festivities as we dive into this family-friendly version of The Made Man Improv Show. The Made Man Improv Show has taken the Midwest by storm and is making a household name for itself.
Textures Institute of Cosmetology Hair Competition
Sunday, July 20 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Hall F, Booth 907 | Free
Experience creativity at its finest as top beauticians and barbers battle it out in a high-stakes showcase of style, artistry, and flair. Grand Prize: $1,000 for the winning look! NEW THIS YEAR: We’re turning up the heat with our first-ever Nails Competition — offering cash prizes and ultimate bragging rights.
About Indiana Black Expo
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with 12 chapter affiliates across Indiana. Its mission is to serve as a voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African Americans. IBE is known for producing two of Indiana’s largest cultural events—Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic®—and for year-round programming in education, workforce development, health equity, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.