Inside the Exhibition: Taking Up Space: Women Leading the Game
We’re excited to announce “Taking Up Space: Women Leading the Game”, an exhibition curated by Mariah Ivey, as part of our Summer Pop-Up Space in the heart of Fountain Square.
Taking Up Space: Where Women Lead the Game spotlights the power, creativity, and cultural influence of women who are reshaping the game and the spaces they inhabit–in the studio, on the court, and throughout culture. Through movement, color, and vivid imagery, this exhibition brings together visual art and communal stories to explore the ways in which women are challenging boundaries and redefining leadership in arenas that have historically excluded them. The works featured celebrate the art of agency, innovation, beauty, and space reclamation.
Mariah Ivey | @mariahivey_
Meet the Curator
Muraled as a “Keeper of Culture” in downtown Indianapolis, IN, Mariah Ivey is a writer, poet, musician, and curator with over a decade of experience in and across the arts. The Indianapolis native was introduced to Indy’s art scene as a child through Asante Arts Institute (formerly Asante Children’s Theater) where she began to harness her voice and creativity; however, it is through Indianapolis’ vibrant poetry, hip-hop and jazz scenes that Ivey began professionally performing, touring, teaching, and cultivating space for local creatives.
The 2016 Art & Soul Alum, formed a genre-bending hip-hop/soul collective in 2017, We Are TribeSouL, while continuing to perform as a poet/spoken word artist. Together, she’s had the pleasure of playing at notable venues such as The Vogue, The Jazz Kitchen, and the historic Madam Walker Theatre; signature initiatives such as TEDxIndianapolis, Music-In-Transit, Chreece Hip-Hop Festival, REV Indy and Butter Fine Art Fair; as well as opening for cultural icons like Arrested Development, Anthony Hamilton, and Beverly Bond, Founder of Black Girls Rock. While performance has driven her career, Ivey’s found great passion behind the scenes for curating accessible art & cultural spaces for all. Ivey has curated over twenty fine art exhibitions and community events including “The Re-Up: An Art and Wellness Festival”, “An Evening With Academy-Award Winning Costume Designer, Ruth E. Carter”, “Soul.real.ism: An Art & Soul Featured Artist Showcase”, and is the founder of the nine year run monthly open mic, That Peace Open Mic.
In February 2025, Ivey partnered with the Arts Council of Indianapolis to re-exhibit her latest body of work, Nourishing Well: Black Women and the Poetics of Sacred Space, at Gallery 924 highlighting nine local artists across disciplines to explore poetry and visual art as a practical response to harm and a pathway to connection. Ivey holds a B.A. in Africana Studies and Philosophy, an M.A. in English Creative Writing from Indiana University Indianapolis, and was a 2023/24 Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) Fellow. She is both honored and excited to continue carving out spaces that center the voices and stories of artists, writers, and community members alike.
A Special Note From the Curator
Toni Morrison once wrote, “There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.” As a poet and musician, I have always known this to be my charge. Yet I continue to stand in awe of the ways visual artists seamlessly dance in the realm of language—the stories they craft through color and texture, the words they weave together through line and form, the healing they spread upon canvas by way of their bravery, creativity, and vulnerability. Each woman represented in this exhibition, including those who surround us in community, is a tangible reminder of who we are and what each of us can do when we relinquish fear and stand proudly in our gifts, in our calling. When we dare to take up space and lead with intention. For that is how civilizations heal.
Mariah Ivey, Curator
Meet the Featured Artists
Tashema Davis | @TashemaDavisArt
Tashema Davis earned her Master's in Art from Ball State University in 2011. Following her graduation, she dedicated herself to teaching high school art in public education until 2022. Currently, she has embraced the role of a full-time artist. In 2023, she was invited to return to the classroom as a middle school art teacher, where she strives to inspire a passion for art among her students.
Davis primarily works with oil paints and enjoys exploring various mediums. Much of her artistic focus centers on the experiences and narratives of African American women. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she finds time to create murals, illustrate children's picture books for herself and others, undertake commissioned works, and prepare for art exhibitions. Her oil paintings have been showcased across Indiana, including notable venues such as the Butter Fine Art Fair, Taylor University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Kennedy's Art Center, The Harrison Arts Center, and Tea’s Me Cafe.
Davis's artwork has reached audiences worldwide, and she continues to illustrate children's books for various clients. Currently, she is engaged in creating oil paintings as a form of art therapy, reflecting her personal healing journey. Her work remains deeply rooted in her life experiences, consistently celebrating joy and the beauty of life through her creations. Davis emphasizes that art is for everyone!
Amiah Mims | @worksbymimsy
Amiah Mims is an ever-growing designer, painter and muralist. She is a 2015 graduate of Kent State University where she majored in Visual Communication Design and minored in Photo Illustration. She is also a retired KSU collegiate level gymnast and MAC Champion.
Previously, Mims was a full-time Graphic Designer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, her need to invest more in her fundamental artistic talents motivated her leap out on faith and branch out on her own. Now, she offers a wider range of her creative services under her newly-founded company, Works By Mimsy LLC.
Mims’ style is flexible, depending on the content and/or the context of the piece. She tends to focus on the human form, exploring how it expresses emotions through its movements and mannerisms. Learning to utilize her abilities to a fuller capacity has been an empowering journey so far and she looks forward to continuing her creative exploration.
To date, a few of her art career highlights include the Indy BLM Street Mural (2020), Sleek: The Art of the Helmet Exhibition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (2022), We.The Culture exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields (2022–23), The Minutiae: A Solo Show at the Harrison Center (2023), BUTTER 1, 2, Home Court Edition & 4 (2021–24), All Star Weekend: Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrels (2024), and the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials Helmet Souvenirs (2024).
ess mckee | @essmckee
ess mckee is a Multidisciplinary visual artist native to Arizona, based in Indianapolis, IN. ess has been involved in the Indy arts scene as a muralist, designer, studio manager, organizer, arts educator and curator for over a decade.
ess is a graduate of Ball State University with a major in Industry & Technology, and a minor in Studio Art: Printmaking. She began her professional career as a graphic designer, and has journeyed into a studio practice, and mural painting. Inspired by hip hop culture, social justice movements, and personal narratives, ess explores themes ranging from poignant social commentary to playful abstractions and introspective self-reflection. Rooted in street art traditions, her work encompasses a dynamic blend of aerosols, acrylics, stencils, and illustrations, all punctuated by a bold, vibrant color palette. ess’ current practice involves projects that keep her engaged with community, advocacy and arts education.
She is a current member of The Eighteen, an art collective of 18 artists that created the Black Lives Matter Mural in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2020. Most recently, she served as a Visiting Artist at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from 2023–2024. She is a BUTTER Fine Art Fair Alumni, and served as the BUTTER Education Day Coordinator in 2024. ess is also an adjunct faculty member at the Herron School of Art & Design, and a resident artist at The Harrison Center for the Arts.
Madison Ivory | @thehuesofivory
Madison Ivory is a multifaceted, self-taught visual artist based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Using colored pencil as her primary medium, she creates intimate portraits that speak to emotion, memory, and identity. She’s passionate about storytelling through portraiture, with a growing body of work inspired by her faith, culture, and lived experiences.
This chapter of Madison’s creative journey is marked by reflection and quiet transformation. With each piece, she seeks to honor the sacredness of legacy—both inherited and in the making. Her portraits serve as love letters to trailblazers, everyday icons, and the stories that often go unseen. Her faith remains a steady undercurrent in her process, shaping how she sees, feels, and chooses to create—with grace, honesty, and reverence.
Outside of the studio, Madison teaches elementary art, where she encourages young artists to explore their own identities and voices. Through her platform, The Hues of Ivory, she shares not only what she creates, but who she’s becoming—an artist committed to growth, storytelling, and glorifying God through a life led by intention and creativity.
Phyllicia Carr | @ilovephy
Phyllicia Carr is a self-taught painter, muralist, photographer, and graphic designer whose passion for art emerged early in life. After studying fashion and graphic design at Alabama A&M and earning a B.A. in Communication from North Carolina A&T in 2011, Carr began shaping a distinctive artistic voice—blending realistic portraiture with abstract collage, nature, and vibrant color to explore themes of identity, vulnerability, and healing, especially among women and marginalized communities.
Her work has been exhibited in cities across the U.S., including Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, and featured by organizations such as Indianapolis Central Public Library, WACO Theater Center (founded by Artistic Director, Tina Knowles), JP Morgan Chase, Cummins, and the Indy Arts Council. In 2022, she expanded into public art and created murals which are located at IU Ball Memorial Hospital, Connor Prairie, Fountain Square, Jackson Place, Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers, and most notably, the Bicentennial Legends Mural at Bicentennial Unity Plaza.
Carr’s storytelling extends beyond the canvas. She’s spoken on artist panels for groups like Young & Laramore, Indianapolis Urban League, Butter Art Fair, and more. In 2024, received a grant through the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Cohort to support her artistic practice and creative pursuits. She currently lives and works in Indianapolis, where her creative journey continues to evolve.
Mirvia Sol Eckert | @mirviasolpainter
Mirvia Sol Eckert is an artist based in Indianapolis, with over 13 years of experience as a full-time acrylic painter. Prior to her current focus, she enjoyed a successful career in graphic design, taught art and Spanish enrichment classes to elementary and middle school students, including in Distance Learning settings. Mirvia's art is rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage, influencing her work even when the subject matter may not be related to her background.
She uses crisp lines and defined shapes, blending recognizable imagery with abstract elements, particularly in the background. With her distinctive palettes—one featuring vibrant colors and the other in dramatic grays—she incorporates symbolic imagery throughout her canvases, encouraging viewers to engage in deeper reflection.
Mirvia finds beauty in small moments of observation, diverse cultures, in the details of nature, as well as in emotional turmoil. As a co-founder of the Indy Latina Artists group and a member of the Indiana Artists Club she continues to make her mark on the local art scene. She has been awarded the Creative Renewal Artist Fellowship Grant, and her works are featured in private collections across the U.S. and Spain.
Her art has been showcased in juried group exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Newfields Art Museum, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette and The Indianapolis Zoo. Additionally, she has created art for murals and billboards, with pieces displayed in hospitals like Eskenazi Health and Ascension St. Vincent - Women and Infants Hospital. Her vibrant style has gained recognition through collaborations with initiatives like the Indy 500 Welcome Race Fans campaign, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, Indianapolis International Airport and the 2024 NBA All-Star event.
Fun Fact: Mirvia has been interviewed multiple times on FOX and WISH TV, and has participated in various community projects, including live art creation, emphasizing the strong connection between art and community.
Cindy Evitt | @cindyevittart
Cindy Evitt is an acrylic artist based in central Indiana, known for her expressive impressionistic style and vibrant subject matter. Her work often features florals and portraiture, though she paints freely based on what moves her. Embracing the fluidity of impressionism, Cindy focuses on capturing the essence and emotion of her subjects rather than striving for perfection or photo realism. Each painting begins with a value study and an underpainting that is often complementary. This lays the foundation for depth and harmony. Acrylic paint is then applied layer by layer. Cindy intentionally allows glimpses of the underpainting to shine through, adding richness and energy to the final piece. Inspired deeply by light and shadow, she sees color everywhere - in nature, in people and in everyday moments. This sensitivity fuels her unique artistic voice and playful perspective. Cindy’s work is designed to evoke joy, warmth, peace, and nostalgia– feelings she hopes to pass on to those who view her art.
Ready to see the gallery for yourself?
📍 Location: 1114 Prospect St. Indianapolis, IN
🗓 Kick-off Reception: Friday, May 10 | 5–8 PM
🕛 Gallery Hours: Thursdays to Sundays | 12–7 PM