About BUTTER

GANGGANG’s BUTTER is a fine art fair that takes place in downtown Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. The 3-day fair exhibits the work of visual artists from around the world, elevating the narrative and context for which works by Black artists are shown. BUTTER works to find new models toward equity in the arts industry by showing with the purpose of selling 100% of the works and for 100% of the proceeds to return to the artist.

As the signature event and fundraiser for GANGGANG, BUTTER engages expert curators in the field, high-quality programming to enhance the art-buying experience, and creative entrepreneurs of all kinds to bring downtown to artistic life for one weekend.

BUTTER is a multi-day fine art fair and celebration that seeks to elevate Black artists in the national conversation by inviting local artists to exhibit and sell work alongside artists from all over the world.

Created with the intent to build equity in the arts and the creative economy, the show seeks to break through local ceilings and put Black Indianapolis back into the conversation. As much of our creative talent looks to more culturally vibrant cities like Atlanta, Nashville and others, we work to retain our talent and create an infrastructure for creative professionals to have robust careers here, in Indianapolis.

Open to the general public, the inaugural event took place on Labor Day Weekend 2021 at The Stutz building in Indianapolis, showcasing the contemporary works of over 30 Black visual artists.

Celebrating Black creatives of all kinds, the art fair also included live music and DJs, BUTTER-themed bites and merchandise, as well as two artist workshops. The weekend concluded with a testimony service led by Ebony Chappel and Sarah J in the City.

By the Numbers

What Happened

We set (and met) some big goals:

  • To sell or loan every piece in the exhibition.
  • To offer resources and learning experiences as part of a professional development component for participating artists.
  • To elevate the perception of Black visual artists in Indianapolis on a national scale.
  • To activate culture and build a thirst for increased investment in the creative economy.

BUTTER 2021 was an immense, overwhelming success. More than 3,410 patrons visited the event over three days, and 70% of the art on display was sold. In total, BUTTER sparked more than $268,000 in revenue for Black artists and creatives. 

Unlike other art shows, BUTTER seeks not only an equitable process but a reparational process. As such, we do not require a fee for artists to participate, nor do we take a commission for any of the works sold.

 

BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair certainly fulfilled GANGGANG’s promise to support creative economy and equity, and continues to form a platform and leadership that expands what this city needs the most.

– NUVO

Designed to advance equitable models of selling art, Butter required no entry fees for artists and Ganggang collected no commissions on sales. Butter showcased the works of more than 30 Black visual artists, including Black Art in America founder Najee Dorsey and Chicago based Kerry James Marshall – selected as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2017.

– Forbes

Black reunion. Salted. Black Love. Black excellence. Eclectic. Black canvas. Black Sculpture. Black installation. Dance. Black joy. As smooth as the pudding the proof is in. The palpable audacity of GANGGANG to engineer such an exquisite experience for all will undoubtedly birth new ventures from those who looked up to this with inspired eyes.

– Januarie York

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