Discover Indiana’s vibrant Latino art community at the Eiteljorg Museum during AHORA! This exciting biennial showcase brings together artists, designers, and creatives from Indiana for a celebration of Latino visual arts. Visitors can enjoy meeting and purchasing work from artist vendors, a pop-up art gallery, and artist talks at 11:30am and 2:30pm. Also, make sure to visit the exhibition Connected by Heritage by Indy Latina Artists at the community gallery.  

This year, hear from multifaceted artist, muralist, gallery owner, and journalist Joy Hernandez. With an appreciation for cartoons, comics, science fiction, and pop culture, Joy has built a career around a distinctive art practice that blends pop surrealism and graffiti aesthetics. With her familiar character Bean the Astronaut, Joy has painted the town all around Indiana and Australia telling stories of his adventures skateboarding in halfpipes to being abducted by aliens in space.  

Additionally, Joy’s contributions to Indy’s arts scene extend beyond her mural work with a studio space and art gallery inside the Factory Arts District building. Participating in monthly First Friday openings, Joy opens her studio space to immerse visitors and patrons into her vibrant and colorful world. Joy also served as the final president of the Indianapolis Downtown Artists & Dealers Association, better known as IDADA, which was the organization that founded the monthly First Friday art tours.  

Listen to Joy discuss building her successful art career around a full time job as a photojournalist. She’ll share insights into how she integrates creativity in her work behind the camera and her work in front of a wall while avoiding burnout. Join Joy during one of two sessions at 11:30am and 2:30pm with a brief Q&A following each session. 

Some of Joy’s accolades include becoming a Creative Renewal Arts Fellow in the 2024-2025 cohort of the program which allowed her to travel to Mexico City. In 2023 Joy was awarded first place by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work in the WishTV special news story, The Living Truth: The Emmett Till Story. That same story was also nominated for an Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). Additionally, Joy’s artwork was recognized Best in Show during the 2022 Flava Fresh series. 

Joy is currently working on a mural for the 500 Festival which will be unveiled in May leading up to the Indy 500. She is also working on a project in collaboration with the City of Cumberland. In late June, Joy will lead an important project for collaborative work in Wisconsin. 

This event is brought to you by Indiana Mexican Latino Artist Network, an initiative of Arte Mexicano en Indiana through the generous support of the Indy Arts Council, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Glick Philanthropies, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Herbert Simon Family Foundation, and the Eiteljorg Museum. 

We also want to thank our community partners AIGA Indianapolis, Latinos Indy, The Mind Trust, Indy Latina Artists, Herron School of Art and Design, WE Brunch, and Indiana Latino Arts for their support. 

The event is included with paid museum admission. Free parking with museum validation. 

Free to high school students and Indiana college students with school ID.