Creatives in Color gives diverse, creative professionals in higher and more visible positions a platform to share their experiences – in hopes of motivating and inspiring other BIPOC creatives in our community.

This year, Creatives on Creatives is an interview style format in which the speakers will present their personal experiences navigating their career path. We were inspired by Variety Magazine's Actors on Actors series, and thought it would be inspiring to hear how each speaker navigates adversity they may have faced and how they overcame it in the creative industry. We want the audience to be inspired but also informed. The speakers will engage in a natural conversation as we sit back and listen to the many stories they share with one another. Come check out how creativity meets inclusivity and invokes change for the better.

Why Creatives in Color?

From our perspective, the Indy creative community lacks BIPOC representation. We want to provide a safe space for all creatives to gather and share their unique experiences. By curating a space where people can come together and spark healthy dialogue, we hope to make the Indy community more diverse and inclusive.

We hope that having underrepresented creatives speak about their career experiences will allow other BIPOC creatives to feel supported and more connected with our community. We worry that people of color might think they don’t have the opportunity to succeed in our creative industry. By spotlighting people of color who are successful and pushing norms in our community, we hope young BIPOC designers will feel they have a place in our community and a support system here.

Speakers:

Beatriz Vasquez

Contemporary Papel Picado Inspired 
U.S. Art in Embassy Ambassador Cultural Artist

Beatriz Vasquez is an international cultural ambassador visual artist, inspired by her Mexican heritage and experiments with the conceptual use of the Mexican folkloric Art of Papel Picado. With the manipulation of paper she transforms layers of intricate cut paper into murals, creates wearable sculptures, and exhibits large scale installations.  Her teaching Artist work focuses on Mexican-American ancestry, Chicana identity, cultural memory, border culture, and social issues on immigration, human rights and climate change advocating the sustainability and accessibility of papel.  Vasquez received her BFA in 2006 from Indiana University’s Herron School of Art and Design but is a self taught Papel Picado Inspired Artist and Sculptor.

Beatriz has recently collaborated with the Indiana State Museum on Art that Speaks Out; focusing on the visibility of migrant workers and advocates for health and safety for all workers during a worldwide pandemic with the California Domestic Workers Coalition; and the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ El Tendedero Project where Vasquez featured NO MEANS NO a large scaled paper dress installation. Stop the Violence against Women and Children and NO Means NO! Created open discussions of sexual violence and abuse.  Vasquez was one of six Indianapolis international artists participating in the Arts for Learning, Third Space, a 2x fellow of the U.S Arts in Embassies under Ambassador Maria Brewer in Sierra Leone, Africa and Maseru Lesotho, Africa, a fellow of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and Root Division in San Francisco, CA. Beatriz is a recipient of the Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Grant and the DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award, a fellow of CICF, the National Latino Association of Art and Culture, IU Traditional Arts Indiana, the Migrant Leadership Program of Southern Indiana and the Center for Climate Power Oakland, Ca. Vasquez is a fellow of IUPUI Arts & Humanities and a member of the Create Indy Advisory Council for the City of Indianapolis, IN. and a fellowship as 2022-2023 Visiting Artists at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  Vasquez Solo exhibitions include the Kurt Vonnegut Library & Museum, Herron School of Art & Design, Richmond Art Museum, 924 Gallery, Harrison Center, Goshen University, IUPUI Herron School of Art Gallery.  Beatriz has an extensive art residency history in Mexico City, Santiago Chile, Los Angeles, Lesotho Maseru Africa, San Francisco, CA and Columbus OH and Indianapolis, IN.

Jingo M. de la Rosa

Illustrator

Jingo M. de la Rosa is a commercial illustrator, art educator, community artist, and urban sketcher. He has created art for renowned organizations such as the NBA, the NCAA, ‘47 Brand Apparel, The Houston Symphony, and Sakura of America. Jingo has helped lead initiatives such as CreativeMornings and Urban Sketchers, where he seeks to cultivate his city’s creative community. He has also taught drawing and illustration for both Herron School of Art & Design and Butler University. Jingo is a native of Manila, Philippines; but now calls Indianapolis his home.