Visual Arts Round-up for February: Valentine’s Photos, Meet the Artists XXXVII, Blue Chips, and First Friday
As the city warms up from our frigid, below-zero temps of January, the cultural opportunities have awakened from the frosty New Year. In no particular order, we present a list of visual arts exhibits going on for February, replete with clickable venue links for additional details and such.
Valentine’s Day Artful Recommendations
Dale is a remarkable photographer doing the old-fangled, Victorian-looking tintype photos. It’s unique yet so accessible and affordable. Take advantage of having an expert in the process in your own hometown and get a 5×7 done. These are meant to be handed down to future generations and last better than paper or digital. He’s doing shoots for Valentine’s Day, but you can always gift someone a gift certificate on Valentine’s Day for a session in the future. It’s literally one shot, and voila! Learn more here. Take a look at his portraits here.
Tintypes by Dale Berstein
Valentine’s Day Vintage Pin-up Shoot
Through February 7 – $300
Get four 8×10 prints w/digital images done for your Valentine, or buy your Valentine a pin-up shoot. Gary’s one of the best commercial event photographers in the city. He’s a great photographer, of course, but he makes you look your best too. Learn more here.
Pin-up Photo Shoot with Gary Watson
An Afrofuturism Exhibition
Opening reception: Thursday, February 6, 6 to 8 p.m. Free.
Midwestern women artists, Tasha Beckwith, Amiah Mims, Dana Powell Smith, Miracle Hall, and Tashema Davis exhibit their artworks celebrating imagination and identity. Learn more about this exhibit here.
Indianapolis Public Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Through Saturday, March 29.
Hours can be found here.
Opening Gala Reception: Saturday, February 15, 5:30 to 10 p.m.
4th Friday Celebration: Friday, March 28, 6 to 9 p.m.
Presented by the Indianapolis Public Library’s African American History Committee and curated by artist and visual arts anchor Anthony Radford, Meet the Artists XXXVIII is a must-see show. Works appear throughout the library and are on view during regular hours. “The exhibit was created to provide an avenue for local, talented African American artists to show off their creative works, artists whose works might not otherwise have a chance to appear in front of such a large audience,” the website reads. Before Butter, before all sorts of stuff, Meet the Artists was where it was at and still solid.
87th Annual Student Show in Memory of Judy Christofolis
86th Annual Student Show: Best of Divisional Winners
Youth ArtReach Biannual Exhibition: Imaginary Worlds
Forging Ahead: Works from the Last 10 Years of the Metals – Program at Herron School of Art & Design
The Joe Will Series: Perpetual Panorama
Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
Opening reception: Friday, February 7, 5 to 8 p.m.
87th Annual Student Show in Memory of Judy Christofolis at the Indy Art Center
Five shows, three of which are annual favorites that speak to the Art Center as a learning facility, open this Friday. Come visit an anchor in our city’s visual arts history to see the art, the studios, the galleries, and the ArtSpark campus. It’s always free to explore. Learn more here.
6202 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220
Opening reception: Friday, February 7, 5 to 8 p.m.
Jennifer Annette will be the featured artist in the latest offerings from the gallery, which presents a wide variety of local art.
1505 N Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Opening reception: Friday, February 7, 6 to 9 p.m.
Special Senior Hours are every Friday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Days Gone By painting of Familiar Place by Courtland Blade will be featured in the main gallery, the Harrison Gallery; Gallery Annex, Under The Influence by Derrick Carter and There & Back group show curated by Kayla Harvey; Speck Gallery, The Chapel of Love, a group show. In the spirit of connection and collaboration, Chapel of Love celebrates the profound intersection of art and love; City Gallery, Urban Indianapolis & Beyond, by Diane Staver; Hank & Dolly’s Gallery, Elements by Stuart Alter; Underground Gallery, Second Mutation by Ess McKee; and in the Sky Gallery, Sender/Receiver by Eric Lubrick. Lubrick’s latest body of work offers a unique exploration of the impact of technology on human connections through the lens of still-life photography. Visit this page of their website here to see the list of shows taking place in their many galleries.
2158 N. Talbott St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or by appointment.
Live bidding takes place on Sunday, February 2, 6 p.m.
Online bids are being accepted, so get registered here.
Etchings. Lithographs, woodcuts, screen prints, watercolors, and mixed media pieces make up this beautiful auction of about 150 affordable pieces by notable (and some not) 20th-century artists. For instance, $500 is the starting bid on a sweet and colorful Keith Haring (item 117) and $50 for a Reginald Marsh etching (item 62). Doris Vlasek Hails, Grant Wood, Andy Warhol, Toshi Yoshida, Howard Finster, Marc Chagall, James Dexter Havens, and Audrey Niffenegger.
An encyclopedic collection of Indiana historical fine art can be found at this casual and friendly gallery. Their website has a list of artists they sell and buy, along with thorough biographies.
1125 E. Brookside Ave., B21, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Opening reception: Friday, February 7, 6 to 9 p.m.
Visit their tenant directory here and map out your First Friday stops in this vast complex of performing arts, visual arts, craft, and food artisans. You probably won’t hit all the high notes of offerings in one evening.
5350 University Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46219
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m.
A historic space in Irvington that was part of Butler’s original campus, the Bona hosts historical and visual arts exhibits specific to the history of the area and Indianapolis. The vibe feels homespun and archivally behind the times but houses some treasures that are always accompanied by a thorough story. Learn more here.
SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 225 West Hawthorne Street, Zionsville, IN 46077
A tiny jewel, the SullivanMunce is a museum, genealogy center, art center, and visual arts exhibit space. Their annual exhibit, First Come, First Hung, runs through Saturday, February 22. Check out their website here for more information on their other exhibits, classes, and genealogy center, as well as how to enter their Zionsville Paint Out.
Käthe Kollwitz: Visions of Solidarity and Resilience
Newfields, 4000 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46208
The museum’s website says the show “…showcases the German printmaker’s powerful works on grief, poverty, and war, highlighting her technical mastery and enduring call for social change.” An aside: a beautiful Kollwitz print is up for auction through Fine Art Estate here at this link. Bid online now. Live auction on Sunday, February 2, 6 p.m.
Check out this link for a list of current exhibits, including Artists Among Us: Season Three. This is a great show of works by staff members who bring the museum to life every day for the public. Through May 11; Carlos Rolón – Hilos de resurgimiento. Through April 27; Shinique Smith: Torque – through June 29; Matter of Record: Photography and the Creation of Meaning – through April 6; and The Lume, Dali Alive – through March 2. Visit this link for a full list of exhibits.
1040 E. New York St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Definitely check out their website to find out what’s going on in this space with its three resident artists. It’s a little confusing, but the new Gallery 317 has opened within this space.
1040 E. New York St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Their grand opening was January 18, 2025, featuring the works of Rozell “RJ” Jordan, who runs the space. Their website reads, “This gallery will be a place for local artists to showcase their work and for the community to come together and celebrate art. It’s not just about displaying art; it’s about creating a space where art lives and breathes, right here in the heart of Indianapolis.” Off and running to elevate local art, you can also view and purchase work on their website.
1103B E 52nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46205
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 12 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays, 12 to 5 p.m.
A great gallery packed with a variety of quality ceramics, furniture, lighting, glass, prints, paintings, and more. Next to the Monon Trail, this is where you can grab a sophisticated piece to give your interior design an oomph.
1134 E. 54th St., Ste. H, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Take a little weekend adventure and pop into Knabe’s studio and shop. Fabrics, wallpapers, paintings, andinstallations (maybe you’ve seen his work at Riley?) are the creme de la creme and should be beautifully appointing your home in some respect. He’s a local art legend.
Walter Knabe – Aurara Luminescence – acrylic silkscreen and hand painting on canvas – 46” x 42”
Conrad Hilton Hotel, 1 Illinois St., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Campbell’s Soup I (Onion), Year: 1968. Medium: Screenprint on paper
So many fantastic Warhols are up for sale in Indianapolis right now, with a bevy of Campbell’s soup can silk screens at Long-Sharp in the mix. Iconic, $60,000 to $140,000 can get you one of these blue chips. View the gallery here. Learn more about the soup cans here.
42 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Located in one of the city’s oldest buildings, dating back to the 1830s, this gallery is also a wedding and events venue. We don’t know what their exhibit schedule is for 2025, but you can check them out on their website here.
Gallery 924, 924 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Described as, “A multimedia art exhibition foregrounds the narratives, experiences, and intersecting identities of Black women through poetry, film, photography, and visual art. Conceptualized by artist and poet Mariah Ivey, the exhibition builds upon her thesis, Nourishing Well: Black Queer Women and the Sanctity of Language, offering an inclusive exploration of art and language as pathways to healing, care, and justice.”
Exhibiting artists include: Aliza Brown, Rain Wilson, Deonna Weatherly, D’yshe Mansfield, Ashley Nora, Mariah Ivey, Dana Powell Smith, Ayanna Tibbs, and JayAmi Sellers. Check out the the gallery’s schedule and open hours here.
107 S. 8th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060
First Friday reception: Friday, February 7, 6 to 9 p.m.
Judge Stone Exhibit: “From the HeART”, Stephenson Showcase: Nova Dreamspace’s “Una llamada tropical”, and musician, Joy Collins.
