BUTTER 5: Indianapolis Art Fair Amplifies Black Artists with No-Commission Model

The fifth annual BUTTER Fine Art Fair, known as BUTTER 5, is currently underway at the historic Stutz factory building in Indianapolis, running from August 28 to 31, 2025. Organized by the creative advocacy agency GANGGANG, the fair continues its mission to support Black and Brown artists by ensuring they receive 100% of the profits from art sales and loans. Since its inception in 2021, BUTTER has showcased nearly 200 local and national artists, emphasizing its impact on talent retention, cultural resilience, economic development, and innovation in the Indianapolis arts scene.

This year's edition features 50 exhibiting artists, live music, educational pop-up events, guided tours, and dining experiences. A special 21+ dance event called MELT will be held at the Murat Shriners Center on Saturday night, with tickets starting at $35. As BUTTER celebrates a million-dollar milestone in its fifth year, it reinforces Indianapolis’s growing support of an equitable and thriving creative community.

The fair's commitment to economic justice is evident in its no-commission model, allowing artists to retain all proceeds from their sales. This approach has led to significant growth, with art sales increasing from $65,000 in its first year to nearly $1 million over four years.

GANGGANG, the organizing entity, is an Indianapolis-based cultural development and social justice organization founded in late 2020 by spouses and business partners Alan Bacon and Malina "Mali" Simone Jeffers. The organization aims to showcase and financially support Black visual artists and their work. Their efforts have included organizing artist collectives, fine art fairs, curated exhibitions, and live performances.

New features in 2025 include a focus on film, with Indianapolis director Chris Wilborn showcasing a teaser of his documentary, "Moving With the Spirit," which is based on faith, resilience, redemption, and community. Additionally, BUTTER welcomes three new curators this year: Jacqueline 'Jac' Forbes, operator of Malibu’s only Black- and woman-owned art gallery; Janice Bond, a Houston-based visionary arts leader; and Samuel Trotter, a multifaceted artist and curator from Detroit.

BUTTER's model represents both economic justice and a form of cultural reparations. By ensuring that artists retain 100% of their earnings, the fair addresses historical inequities in the art market. The event also serves as a platform for emerging Black artists, providing them with visibility and opportunities that have traditionally been scarce.

Founded in 2020 as a response to the Black Lives Matter protests and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, BUTTER was conceived by Malina Simone Bacon and her husband Alan Bacon. The fair was established to provide a platform for Black artists and to address the lack of equitable opportunities in the art world.

BUTTER 5 stands as a testament to the power of intentional support and advocacy for Black artists. Through its innovative model and commitment to economic justice, the fair not only showcases artistic excellence but also contributes to a more equitable and vibrant cultural community in Indianapolis.