INDIANAPOLIS—April 9, 2026—Indianapolis-based cultural non-profit GANGGANG is pleased to announce the appointment of Lesley Malone Gordon as its first-ever Executive Director, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the growing organization defined by community-focused leadership and intentional growth.
“It is affirming and energizing to have Lesley lead GANGGANG’s next chapter. Our organization is an advocate, meaning it is our role to communicate about beauty, equity, and culture as the savior of cities. Lesley is our community’s best communicator and has been a champion for creatives for decades,” said Mali Bacon, co-founder of GANGGANG, BUTTER Fine Art Fair, and Stoodeo. “We’re so excited to have a leader at the executive day-to-day level.”
A long-time GANGGANG Board member, Lesley brings a deep appreciation for arts, culture, and community, paired with pragmatic business and communications skills, to the organization. Known for her senior leadership at nonprofit and civic organizations in Indianapolis, the IU alumni has experience leading mission-aligned initiatives, most recently through her work as Chief Communications Officer at Black Onyx Management and before that, as Chief Public Affairs Officer at IndyGo.
“Lesley Gordon stepping into the role of GANGGANG’s first Executive Director marks a powerful and necessary evolution for our organization. It honors the vision and courage of the founders who built something bold, disruptive, and deeply rooted in culture, while also positioning GANGGANG for long‑term sustainability and impact,” said Brandi Davis-Handy, GANGGANG Board Chair. “This moment allows Mali and Alan to do what they do best, which is lead creatively, advocate fiercely, and continue shaping the future of an equitable creative economy, supported by strong operational leadership.”
In her new role as Executive Director, Lesley will steward the organization through its next chapter of growth, which includes work on signature programs like BUTTER Fine Art Fair, BLACK: A Festival of Joy, and I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll, as well as placekeeping projects with partners Purdue University in Indianapolis, Mellon Foundation, the City of Westfield and the Indianapolis Indians. She will also work to strengthen GANGGANG’s internal infrastructure, diversifying revenue and ensuring long-term financial and organizational health.
“I’m honored to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for GANGGANG alongside Mali, Alan, and the entire team. Our city is rich with creative talent and cultural brilliance, and I care deeply about ensuring that the ecosystem is not only celebrated, but meaningfully invested in and sustained,” said Lesley Gordon, GANGGANG Executive Director. “This next chapter isabout building the structure, partnerships, and momentum to scale our impact while staying rooted in the community that makes this work matter. Now more than ever, it will take collective belief and investment to ensure our artists and culture don’t just exist, but truly thrive.”
About GANGGANG
GANGGANG is a creative advocacy agency that centers beauty, equity, and culture in cities by activating the creative economy. Founded in Indianapolis, GANGGANG invests in artists to inform identities, places, and cultures while advocating for cultural reparations, artist viability, and more equitable cities through research, programming, and storytelling.
Media Contact: Allen Bell, GANGGANG, allen@ganggangculture.com