Come and meet the artist and join us for good conversation and light refreshments.
Art at Martindale-Brightwood exhibit IV will feature two very different artists:
Rozell “RJ” Jordan is an Indianapolis-based artist, entrepreneur, curator, and founder of Gallery 317 and RJ’s Palette Art. A Navy veteran and multidisciplinary creative, Jordan is known for producing compelling abstract and mixed media works that explore culture, identity, emotion, and lived experience with depth and originality. His artistic practice blends bold texture, movement, symbolism, and intuitive storytelling, resulting in work that resonates in both personal and public spaces.
As the founder of Gallery 317, Jordan has built a platform dedicated to elevating local and regional artists while strengthening the cultural landscape of Indianapolis. Through exhibitions, community programming, and creative collaborations, he continues to position art as both a transformative experience and a vehicle for connection, dialogue, and opportunity. His work as both an artist and arts leader reflects a clear commitment to excellence, access, and long-term impact within the community.
We are also featuring:
Natalie Smith is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Originally from Chicago’s South Side (35th and King Drive) and now based in Indianapolis, her work explores themes of culture, identity, and lived experience.
Smith is known for her textured paintings and distinctive 3D Styrofoam head sculptures, often incorporating unconventional materials to create depth, movement, and emotional resonance. Her practice draws heavily from African American culture and ancestral storytelling, while remaining fluid in subject and style.
Through her work, Smith continues to push beyond traditional boundaries, creating pieces that are both visually compelling and culturally grounded.
AGE GROUP: | Families | Educators | All Ages | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Exhibit/Display |
TAGS: | Creativity | Community | #Arts&Crafts | #artreception | #artexhibit | #Art | #Adult |
The Brightwood Branch opened in 1901 as the sixth public library in Indianapolis. It served the Brightwood community at several locations along Station Street, one street west of its current North Sherman Avenue storefront site which opened in 1972. A 1996 renovation at this location doubled the size of the branch to 5,400 square feet. In 2020, a brand-new branch building, across the street from the previous branch, was completed and re-named as the Martindale-Brightwood Branch.
