Open year round, the Galleries at Herron showcase the artwork of emerging and established contemporary artists and designers, as well as the work of Herron’s acclaimed faculty, distinguished alumni and students. All exhibitions and artist talks are free and open to the public.
Current exhibitions
The Sum of Unity
Feb. 3, 2021 – April 17, 2021
Berkshire, Reese and Paul Galleries
Eskenazi Hall
The Sum of Unity, curated by artist and Herron alumnus Samuel Levi Jones, is a composite exhibition in response to the divisive climate in which we all find ourselves. The main thrust of the exhibition will be protest signs – an art form that is often overlooked – created by more than 50 Indiana and Chicago-based artists, including Herron students, alumni, faculty and staff. As an auxiliary part of The Sum of Unity, Indianapolis artists Shamira Wilson and Clayton Hamilton have been asked to create new large-scale murals that will be seen alongside the 2018 animated video by Kota Ezawa, National Anthem.
This exhibition is made possible, in part, by Stuart's Moving and Storage, Indianapolis.
Paul Briggs
Paul S. Briggs–Cell Personae: The Impact of Incarceration on Black Lives
March 24 – April 24, 2021
Marsh Gallery
Eskenazi Hall
Through his arresting sculptural ceramics, Paul Briggs confronts the far-reaching impact of incarceration on Black lives. Briggs brings a background in social justice advocacy as a former Baptist minister to inform his work, realizing the inherent physicality of clay and its expressive potential. In view of the fact that disproportionately Black Americans populate our prisons, his sculptures are an attempt to uncover the wider impact of incarceration that deeply damages not only those imprisoned, but also their families, and the ability of both to participate in a democratic life after incarceration.
The work found in Cell Personae was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund and appears here courtesy of Friedman Benda, New York, N.Y. The Herron Galleries presentation is made possible, in part, by the Creative Motif Fund, N.Y.
Creativity vs. COVID: Ending the Pandemic for Good
A Virtual Exhibition
March 24 – May 9, 2021
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at universities and other publicly funded institutions have been working to develop tests, treatments and vaccines to better protect us and ease the public health crisis. An international collective of university students, artists and activists has also worked to ensure that these treatments are available to everyone. This innovative, virtual exhibition shares the compelling creative work of the Free the Vaccine for COVID-19 campaign – from poster designs to viral parody music videos. In doing so, it introduces audiences to key issues that limit access to medicine and provides robust methods that anyone can use to advocate for change from anywhere, especially at this time of social distancing.
Creativity vs. COVID is organized by Associate Professor Laura Holzman, Public Scholar of Curatorial Practices and Visual Art, IUPUI.
SHIFT: What can museums change?
March 24 – April 24, 2021
Basile Gallery
Eskenazi Hall
Developed by students in the Museum Studies program at the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, this exhibition explores large and small ways that museums are working to right historical wrongs.
Upcoming exhibitions
Senior Capstone Exhibition
May 5 – 22, 2021
Eskenazi Fine Arts Center
Marsh Gallery
Eskenazi Hall
The Senior Capstone Exhibition features exceptional works produced by Herron undergraduate senior students across a variety of artistic disciplines.
Graduate Thesis Exhibition
May 5 – 22, 2021
Berkshire, Reese and Paul Galleries
Basile Gallery
Eskenazi Hall
This exhibition featured the work of Herron students completing their master's degrees in art therapy, visual art, and visual communication design and showcased examples of installation art, intermedia work, painting, sculpture, and furniture design; user-centric design innovations; and therapeutic uses of the creative process.
Thank you
Herron's artist-in-residence program is made possible with support through CityWay, a luxury mixed-use community located in downtown Indianapolis.
Parking is free on levels 5 and 6 of the Riverwalk Garage, courtesy of The Great Frame Up Indianapolis, with validation from the Herron galleries.
In-kind support is provided by Sun King Brewing.
