We recently connected with Boxx The Artist and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Boxx thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative pathway professionally wasn’t a sudden moment, but a journey that brought me full circle to the passion I had unknowingly cultivated since childhood. I was always a creative child, but I didn’t initially see art as a career path—just something that brought me joy. My grandmother played a big role in nurturing my gift. She would invite me into her room, sit me down, and ask me to draw something for her. She made those drawings feel important, taping each one to her wall as if they were masterpieces. It’s almost as if she knew who I was, before I did.
My parents also supported my creativity, constantly supplying me with art sets that gave me endless opportunities to practice. Throughout secondary school, I stayed creative by designing school apparel, earning the titles of “Most Artistic” and “Most Creative.” But even with this steady flow of creative energy, I entered college with a focus on success and financial security. I excelled in my academics along with writing, public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving, building leadership skills graduating with a Dual-Degree from Purdue University that set me up for corporate America.
After graduation, I began working in project management in the electrical manufacturing industry, where I quickly realized the work was mundane and uninspiring. I would often find myself sketching and doodling at my desk to pass the time since the workload was unchallenging. Hoping to reconnect with creativity, I bought a paint kit but was never inspired to opened it. After deciding to shift careers, I transitioned to another role in marketing at a new company, hoping for something more engaging and creative. Ironically, I found myself in another uninspiring industrial job. I told myself to settle and commit to three years, but fate had other plans. Shortly after (3 months to be exact), I was laid off.
That layoff became a pivotal moment. For the first time, I opened that untouched paint kit and spent a week painting. Pouring myself in that process felt transformative. When I decided to share my work on social media, I was amazed by the positive reception. People thought my work was good—good enough to purchase—and it sparked the idea that this could be more than just a hobby. But I wasn’t ready to dive in fully.
When I relocated to Indianapolis, I felt a renewed spark for art but still leaned toward the safety of a secure job. I took a role in the tech industry, balancing work with exploring the local art scene. After a year in this new role that felt similar to my previous roles, the company announced its closure and my eventual layoff, but this time, the news hit different. I realized I no longer wanted to rely on a corporate ladder that could crumble beneath me.
From the moment they told us the office was closing, I knew I had to commit to something that truly lit me up—something no one could take from me. I turned to art. I strategized, treated it as a business, and found fulfillment in creating work that resonated with people. That moment of choosing art wasn’t just a decision to follow a passion—it was reclaiming my security and building a life around what I love.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Boxx The Artist and I am an Indianapolis-based interdisciplinary visual artist, and my practice spans traditional acrylics, public art, digital art, photography, and film. My work synthesizes expressionistic portraiture that examines the African Diaspora, creating cultural images that honor marginalized communities. I often center melanated subjects in my art, using dark hues to capture light within darkness and explore and observe how Blackness occupies and illuminates spaces. Currently, I am redefining my practice as I develop and expand into a genre of Black Expressionism, exploring new ways to share my vision with the world.
Originally from Gary, Indiana, I earned a dual Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in African-American Studies and Mass Communication, with a concentration in Media Production and minors in Political Science and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. During my time in college, I focused on advocacy, serving as President of the Black Student Union and joining Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. I also explored the performing arts as a musician, lyricist, spoken word artist, and actress, performing with the acting ensemble New Directional Players at the Black Cultural Center.
After graduating, I pursued a corporate career, but eventually, my creative pursuit led me to focus on the arts. I’ve been a full-time artist for seven years, and my work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including the Black Creativity Juried Exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry in 2022 and 2023, as well as the 26th African American Art Exhibition at the Roanna H. Victor Gallery in the Actors Theatre of Louisville. I’m honored to have been recognized as a Hoosier Women Artist by the Indiana Lt. Governor in 2023 and 2024, earning consecutive one-year art installations in the Indiana State House. Additionally, I’ve received the DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award and the Power Plant Grant from Big Car Collaborative and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts. In 2024, I was named Noblesville Creates Artist of the Year for my contributions to the Greater Indianapolis art community and contemporary art.
I’ve served on various panels, juries, and curatorial roles, all in pursuit of expanding the art landscape. Residencies and fellowships, including the 2021 Maker-in-Residence at Ignite Studio in Fishers, Indiana, and the On Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator with the Indiana Arts Commission, have been pivotal in shaping my journey. My public art includes over ten mural installations in Indianapolis, such as a five-story civic mural, a permanent piece at the Indiana State Museum, and a mural for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit at Conner Prairie: Living History Museum.
From 2023 to 2024, I had the privilege of being PATTERN Artist-in-Residence, engaging in a six-month creative entrepreneurship residency. My work has been displayed at the Indianapolis Airport and featured in local outlets like Fox59, WISH-TV, WRTV, IndyStar, Nuvo, and the Indianapolis Recorder. I am also a Certified Minority/Woman-Owned Business in the state of Indiana.
In 2021, I set out to help underrepresented emerging and practicing artists of color through founding a nonprofit, Arthentic Arts Incorporated (ARTS). Committed to providing avenues for creative exploration and expanding access to the arts within marganlized Indianapolis communities—Our mission extends to empowering disadvantaged local creatives and emerging artists by providing them with essential resources for growth and advancement.
At the core of ARTs is an inclusive and collaborative hub, designed to be a sanctuary for underserved Black creatives. Our commitment extends to ensuring equitable support for BIPOC and BIPOC LGBTQ artists and creatives across the entire spectrum. Through our initiatives, we strive to cultivate an environment that nurtures creativity, collaboration, and champions the diverse voices that contribute to the arts. I’m passionate about offering resources and creative entrepreneurial development for underserved, marginalized artists.
Work and Insight
My artistic journey is deeply personal and guided by a passion for research and experimentation. Like Pablo Picasso, I see art as a continuous process of discovery. Inspired by my academic background, I use my work to explore Black history and culture beyond narratives of oppression. For me, painting is a scholarly pursuit—every brushstroke is a way to honor Blackness in positive spaces and affirm the worthiness of Black people throughout history. The duality in this is also observing how Blackness occupies spaces through my work.
My premiere collection, The Women in Between, examines the effects of systematic racial bias rooted in the history of portraiture, photography, and printmaking. I explore how early portraiture, once reserved for the wealthy, excluded Black people and how technological biases in photography perpetuated this marginalization. My work seeks to address these dynamics, using tones, textures, and symbolism to highlight the beauty and complexity of Black identity.
Through my art, I aim to challenge the historical erasure of Blackness in visual mediums, celebrate its richness, and create work that resonates with and uplifts my community and allows us to take up space. You can connect with me on social media @boxxtheartist, where I share my creative journey and continue the conversation about art, identity, and empowerment.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
To best support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem, society must first recognize the undeniable importance, value and sustainability of the arts. Throughout history, the arts have not only endured but thrived as a fundamental of human expression, culture, and innovation. From ancient cave paintings to modern digital art forms, the arts have consistently demonstrated their resilience and significance, proving they are not a luxury but an essential, sustainable part of our existence.
The arts also make substantial financial contributions to the economy. In the United States alone, the creative sector generates billions annually, providing millions of jobs and supporting local and national economies. Beyond revenue, the arts drive tourism, enrich education, and connect communities. Despite this, artists often face systems that undervalue their work and deny them the resources they need to function as professionals. Like any other industry, the arts deserve space to exist and operate with the same respect and support given to other economic pathways.
To achieve this, we must prioritize paying artists fairly for their work. Too often, artists are asked to donate their time and creativity for “exposure,” or they are forced into exploitative arrangements where they must pay to participate in events while communities are also charged for access. This creates a dual burden—on the artists, who are often underpaid, and on the public, who may find the arts less accessible due to high costs. Deconstructing these systems is essential to building equitable pathways for creatives to thrive.
Society must also honor the history and respect the arts once held. Artists have always been at the forefront of cultural evolution, shaping identities and driving change. By appreciating this legacy, we can create new, non-exploitative systems that enable communities to support creative work. This might include grant programs, community art funds, tax incentives for supporting artists, and accessible art spaces that encourage collaboration and participation.
Artists and the creative sector deserve the same respect and infrastructure afforded to other industries. Investing in the arts is not just a moral imperative—it’s an economic and cultural necessity. When we support artists, we sustain the heart of human connection, innovation, and expression, ensuring a thriving future for all.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The goal driving my creative journey is deeply rooted in the freedom to create and express myself authentically across my multiple gifts. As a multidisciplinary artist, I resist the pressure to conform to a singular craft or niche because my creativity doesn’t fit into one Boxx. Single-gifted individuals may not understand navigating comfortably in various disciplines, but for me, the ability to express freely—whether through painting, public art, digital art, photography, or film—is not just a choice; it’s essential. I honor how I choose to show up each day, allowing my creativity to guide me organically because my purpose is to create— and that looks different everyday.
My journey is also deeply connected to my desire to explore the Black American experience. I am drawn to the beauty and resilience in our culture, and subsequently the shame that surrounds it, so I seek to illuminate how Blackness occupies and transforms spaces. By physically placing Black-centered work in visible, meaningful environments, I aim to create opportunities for others to see, experience, and engage with the richness of our identity. My work becomes a bridge between observation and celebration, shining a light on narratives that have historically been overlooked.
Beyond my personal practice, I also have a desire to help emerging and practicing artists. Through my nonprofit, I want to be the person I never had—a Black artist visible, accessible, and thriving in real-time within the community. Representation matters, and I want others to see that it’s possible to live off their creativity while staying true to who they are. This mission extends to creating systems that dismantle barriers, ensuring artists can sustain themselves while remaining authentic and true to their practice.
Ultimately, my journey is about honoring my multifaceted nature, uplifting my community, and creating spaces where Blackness is celebrated and illuminated. It’s about reshaping systems to ensure artists are valued, seen, and supported, while giving myself and others the freedom to explore and express the fullness of who we are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boxxtheartist.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/boxxtheartist
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/boxxtheartist
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/boxxtheartist
- Twitter: @BoxxTheArtist
- Other: www.arthenticarts.org
instagram.com/arthenticarts
facebook.com/arthenticarts
Image Credits
Boxx The Artist @Boxx The Artist (first 3 pictures)
MaryJaneShoots @DJMaryJaneDetroit (remainder)