BUTTER

Overview

Celebrating six years of fine art, BUTTER Fine Art Fair powered by AES Indiana will return Labor Day Weekend for the exhibit’s sixth iteration. BUTTER showcases the work of established, independent, and emerging Black artists from Indiana and across the globe, serving as a new model for economic justice in the arts.

Dedicated to transforming artists’ mindsets and careers, the no-commission fair works to maximize artist earnings by selling or loaning 100% of the exhibition, giving 100% of the proceeds from art sales to the artists. Artists pay no fee to participate and guests under 18 pay no fee to enter the immersive three-day event.

“Amid a polarizing social and political environment, BUTTER continues to promote resiliency, possibility, and culture,” said Malina Simone Bacon, Co-Founder of GANGGANG and BUTTER. “Year five marks a major milestone for the fine art fair and tells of Indy’s commitment to talent retention, economic development, and innovation in the arts. This year we will eclipse $1 million in sales for artists, and we’ll continue to inspire thousands of guests each day.”

Since its inception in 2021, BUTTER has welcomed 46,000+ attendees and 189 artists who have sold more than $900,000 worth of artwork, including 24 BUTTER artwork acquisitions by 11 major institutions for permanent collections. Last year alone, 64 artworks sold with an average sales price per artwork $2,400, with notable sales including: Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers acquired an Israel Solomon’s “Spades Game, 2024”; The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis acquired “Saturday Morning, 2024”, by FITZ and “Dreamgazer, 2024”, by Micah Johnson; Kyra Epps, TV producer, purchased a Gary Gee mask entitled “I See You King, 2024”; The Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University Bloomington also acquired several pieces for their permanent collection.

Schedule:

September 4 - Education Day

K-8 high school and college groups get to tour the exhibition before the show opens to the public. The eduational experience offers students a sneak peek behind the scenes of BUTTER, with students hearing from the leaders, creators, artists, and neighborhood historians.

For a video recap on the making of BUTTER, click here.