Gallery 317 is providing opportunities for Black artists to show their work

Gallery 317 is providing a space in Indianapolis for Black artists to showcase their work.

Founded and operated by Indy-based artists Rozell Jordan and Jarrod Dortch, Ed.D., Gallery 317’s goal is simple: to bring people together and give artists of color an opportunity to shine. The Black-owned art gallery opened at 1040 E. New York St. in January 2025 and has hosted exhibitions and partnered with local organizations to uplift artists of all ages and backgrounds ever since.

“It’s just a place that has a very communal feel,” Dortch told the Recorder. “We try to have a tight-knit community where everybody’s trying to do better, everybody’s trying to help each other, and everybody wants to support each other and continue to move Indianapolis’ African American community towards art and having original art pieces in your home.”

Dortch, an Indy-based artist, educator, and member of The Eighteen, has showcased his work all over the city — including at the 2021 and 2026 NCAA Tournaments, the 2024 NBA All-Star, BUTTER and We. The Culture at Newfields. Jordan, a retired Navy veteran, has been an artist his whole life, but only recently got back into painting and showing his work after retiring.

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Having worked with Big Car for the last 15 years, Dortch said the biggest issue with the art scene in Indianapolis is the lack of spaces for African American artists to present their work. Dortch wasn’t trained as an artist and said he “kind of fell into the opportunity” to do things and show his work in spaces that other artists have been working towards their entire lives, but haven’t yet achieved. However, Dortch believes it is his obligation to give back to the very community that has championed him. 

“My way of giving back has been to support them by creating a space where they can always feel comfortable, and they can always show their work, and supporting the arts as much as I possibly can,” Dortch added. “This is my way of doing that.”

There are institutions and Black-owned organizations in Indianapolis that only operate once a year, which means certain Black artists only get to showcase their work once, maybe twice a year, Jordan said. It means a lot to both Jordan and Dortch that they can operate Gallery 317 as a space that is “here all the time” for artists who want and deserve the opportunity to showcase their work “all the time.”

“I know how difficult it is to get your artwork into other organizations. I know how hard it is to get into Newfields … into BUTTER,” Jordan said. “Someone always gave me an opportunity when it came to my art, and I do think the artists have that obligation. I wouldn’t be here if somebody didn’t give me that opportunity.”

Gallery 317 not only aims to address the need for a year-round Black-owned gallery space but also to offer opportunities for amateur and youth artists to learn about gallery operations, including how to hang their work, take professional photos and discuss it with potential clients.

“I remember my experience with Newfields. It was really cool that they brought us in, and for some of us who were not as experienced as others, showed us how to actually hang work properly, how to mount work, and how to make things gallery-ready,” Dortch said. “Those are things that are really important if we want to continue to have our works in galleries and museums and things of that nature.”

Since opening, the art on Gallery 317’s walls has represented some of the finest, well-known artists in the city, as well as students and those who have never had their work hung in a gallery before, Jordan said. In nearly 18 months, Gallery 317 has showcased more than 50 artists, partnered with Ivy Tech Community College to host its Fine Arts Program Final Showcase and hosted events with LGBTQ+ artists for Pride Month.

The community response and engagement have been overwhelmingly positive, but also two-fold, Dortch said. Gallery 317 aims to host events where the artists are actually in the building, allowing guests to engage with them directly, not only to better understand their work but also to build relationships.

“I think from a visitor aspect, we’ve learned that people feel really comfortable coming to our gallery. They don’t feel like they’re out of place,” Dortch said. “I think our artists are our teachers and students, so they learn from one another, and they’re also always willing to help individuals who are coming in.”

Currently on display is Indy Legends, which Jordan said features “some heavy hitters” like Kevin West, Gary Gee, Ess McKee, Clayton Hamilton, Rebecca Robinson, and more. The exhibition is centered around highlighting contemporary artists who have impacted not just the Black arts industry in Indianapolis but the art community as a whole. Indy Legends is on display through June 27 and is free to attend. It will also be on display during the Indiana Black Expo July 9-19.

After their first year of operations, Dortch and Jordan said they are focused on raising more funds and providing even more educational opportunities for their artists — including workshops on writing narratives for their work to basic painting classes.

Gallery 317 also recently obtained 501(c)(3) status, and looking forward to building community partnerships as well as opening the gallery space to host events and other arts-related activations.

For more information about Gallery 317 or the Indy Legends Exhibition and upcoming events, visit instagram.com/gallery317inc. 

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.