Through talks, symposia, performances and other events, Herron's public programming offers encounters with world-renowned artists while serving as a catalyst for discussions about timely issues related to contemporary art and culture. All talks are free and open to the public.
See our past talksEngage in dialogue with art and culture
Upcoming talks

Tsherin Sherpa
POSTPONED
Basile Auditorium
Eskenazi Hall
CHRISTEL DEHAAN FAMILY FOUNDATION VISITING ARTIST LECTURE
Presented in conjunction with his exhibition, Tsherin Sherpa will discuss his practice informed by traditional Tibetan religious iconography, folk tales, identity politics, displacement social issues, and his personal everyday experiences.

Migration: A Force of Nature—A Basic Human Need
A panel discussion in conjunction with the exhibition
Hope & Loss—A Border Elegy: Recent Work by Beatriz Vasquez
POSTPONED
Basile Auditorium
Eskenazi Hall
Visual artist Beatriz Vasquez, a 2019 recipient of the IUPUI Arts & Humanities Institute Artist Residency, will share her experience on the U.S.-Mexico border and her work based on the indigenous craft of papel picado. Vasquez's experience will serve as an introduction to a discussion focusing on the immigration crisis and how it has impacted Indianapolis communities while examining the local response from immigration services.
The panel will also address the role of artists in increasing awareness of important social issues through their art. Additionally, the discussion will explore the absence of people of color in arts administration and the need to promote leadership roles that support art communities while diversifying the arts through inclusive artist residencies based on social justice and equality.
Panelists:
- Terri Morris Downs, former executive director of Indianapolis's Immigrant Welcome Center
- Elia Irene Sanchez Ibarra, director of crime prevention at Lawrence Police Department and former director of the Indiana Commission for Hispanic and Latino Affairs at the Indiana Civil Rights Museum
- Kavita Mahoney, arts center manager at Garfield Park Arts Center
- Beatriz Vasquez, visual artist and 2019 IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute artist-in-residence

David Klamen
POSTPONED
Basile Auditorium
Eskenazi Hall
KERRY DINNEEN & SAMUEL SUTPHIN VISITING ARTIST LECTURE
Visiting artist David Klamen will discuss the development of his aesthetically diverse paintings and his use of the history of art as a metaphor for our communal search for meaning.
Herron's artist-in-residence program is made possible with support through CityWay, a luxury mixed-use community located in downtown Indianapolis.
Endowed artist talks
Included in the Galleries events taking place throughout the year are four endowed talks annually.
Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Visiting Artist Lecture
The Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Visiting Artist Lecture brings prominent contemporary artists to come to Herron to present their work and ideas.
Kerry Dinneen & Sam Sutphin Visiting Artist Fund
Established through the generosity of Kerry Dinneen & Sam Sutphin, this lecture series supports a visiting artist or scholar who engages with students in the classroom or studio and provides a public lecture.
The Jane Fortune Outstanding Women Visiting Artist Lecture
"I want to make an impact on the community that surrounds me and help make the arts accessible to our residents," said Jane Fortune when she established this series to bring internationally acclaimed female artists to Herron.
The Annual Jordan H. and Joan R. Leibman Forum on the Legal and Business Environment of Art
The Leibman Lecture is a joint program of Herron School of Art and Design, Kelley School of Business, and Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI. Blend the visual arts, business, and law, past Leibman forum topics have ranged from the documentary The Art of The Steal to a presentation by the U.S. Department of Treasury on engraving practices.
Phillip Tennant Furniture Artisan Lecture
Established in honor of the founding instructor of Herron's Furniture Design Program, Professor Phillip Tennant and through the generosity of James W. and Nancy C. Smith, this lecture series supports a visiting artist or scholar from the fields of furniture design, fabrication, or a closely related field.



Clockwise from top: Cynthia Daignault, Tom Sachs, and Wayne White.
Past guest speakers
- Tom Sachs
- María Magdalena Campos-Pons
- Eleanor Antin
- Faith Ringgold
- Judy Chicago
- Jon Kolko
- Diane Simpson
- Bastian Muhr
- Cynthia Daignault
- Wayne White
- Deborah Butterfield
- Chip Kidd
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 in the Sports Complex Garage adjacent to Eskenazi Hall or 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.
