Indianapolis has a long, storied history of Black creatives who have left a lasting impression on their communities.
This Black History Month, the Recorder is spotlighting a few artists from the past and present who continue to make a difference in Indianapolis and beyond through music, dance, poetry and visual arts.
READ MORE: ‘Animating ancestors’: Ignored Black architects of American imagination
Wes Montgomery
1923-1968
Celebrated jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery made a name for himself during the height of Indiana Avenue’s cultural boom. Known for his unique way of plucking his guitar strings with the side of his thumb rather than a pick and for his substantial use of octaves, Montgomery’s sound was distinct, making him one of the most influential jazz musicians to date.
In 2023, Mayor Joe Hogsett proclaimed March 6 as Wes Montgomery Day in honor of the late jazz artist’s 100th birthday, legacy and contribution to the arts.
John Wesley Hardrick
1891-1968
Having trained with impressionist artists from the Hoosier Group, John Wesley Hardrick was one of the first Black artists to attend the John Herron Art Institute. Hardrick quickly earned recognition for his portraits and still-life paintings depicting a variety of local figures, community leaders, celebrities and everyday passersby. Hardrick’s work, which was said to capture the “essence of life” in Indianapolis, was featured in an exhibition for the first time in 1914 at the Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Today, a few pieces of Hardrick’s work can be found in collections at both the Indiana State Museum and the IMA at Newfields.
Mari Evans
1919-2017
Rooted in the Black Arts Movement, Mari Evans was a prominent poet, writer, playwright and transplant Hoosier. Inspired by Langston Hughes, Evans’ own short-line poems often explored the nature of community, the power of language and personal narratives.
Throughout her creative career, Evans received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, taught at Spelman College, Purdue and Cornell Universities, and won the Black Academy of Arts and Letters poetry award for “Continuum: New and Selected Poems.” She’s even known for her 1979 play “Eyes,” an adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
Anthony “Tony” Radford
Mixed-media artist and curator Anthony Radford is likely best known for establishing “Meet the Artists,” an annual exhibition for Black creators at the Indianapolis Public Library. However, Radford has deep connections to Indy’s art scene, having championed opportunities for Black artists and youth to have spaces to create and showcase their work, including founding WE ARE Indy Arts and regularly working with youth mentorship programs at the Indianapolis Art Center and Arts for Learning.
Radford’s own work also includes pieces like “Blackface V: Welcome to America,” which showcases social and political commentary, leaning into racial injustices past, present and future.
Sabra Logan
In 1989, Sabra Logan founded iibada Dance Company in the basement of Mount Zion Baptist Church. She was just 17 years old and had a passion for dance that she wanted to share with Indianapolis youth. Approximately 37 years and three generations later, Logan’s vision is still going strong, as iibada Dance Company remains a pillar of the Indianapolis community, championing African and modern dance and youth outreach.
Today, Logan is still involved with the company, serving as iibada Dance Company’s executive advisor and board member.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
