The Campus Center is a space where many IU Indianapolis students spend their free time between classes, studying and snack breaks, as well as a space for the Indianapolis community to discover different facets of the university. This is part of why Sophia DeWitt, the current Graduate Curatorial Fellow for the Campus Center Cultural Art Gallery, chose to utilize the space of the Campus Center Cultural Art Gallery to showcase artworks made by some of IU Indianapolis’ own LGBTQ+ students.
Running from Feb. 3-28, “Shades of Us” was created in partnership with the Queer Artist Alliance to display 11 works created by six different artists.
DeWitt is a museum studies graduate student who has been an intern curator since August 2025, and her mission during the internship is to highlight the art of students with unique perspectives who may not always have the chance to promote themselves.
“If I can at least give [queer students] that one opportunity for somebody to look at them and see them as more than just a label and see them as a person, I think that's really important,” Dewitt said.
From paintings to photography to clothing items, each piece came along with an artist statement, giving a snapshot into the artist’s perspective and intention behind the piece, as well as listing prices for those that are for sale.
One of Dewitt’s favorite pieces from the gallery is “The Many Faces of Lazlo” by Jess Ott, a small booklet made from watercolor and pencils. While trying to quit sugar, Ott created Lazlo, a colorful character that represents the physical manifestation of glucose.
Another of DeWitt’s favorite pieces is “Not Gay as in Happy, But Queer as in I Love You” by museum studies master’s student Kal Demaree, The piece is a jean jacket inspired by David Wojnarowicz, including an altered version of the famous protest slogan coined by ACT UP and Queer Nation in the 1990s.
“I was inspired by the feeling that you get when you see sunlight shining on moving water,” Demaree said. “That is the euphoria I get when I am comfortable in my body, my soul and my head. Making this piece made me feel that warm euphoria.”
Demaree also contributed another piece to the gallery, titled after the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office phone number, “317-770-4415”, highlighting both identified and unidentified victims found in Fox Hollow Farms.
Demaree urges anyone who had a loved one go missing in the '80s and '90s to call the Hamilton County Coroner and request a free DNA test.
“While the perpetrator targeted gay men, we cannot assume how the victims would have all identified,” Demaree said. “And all the victims deserve to be named, honored, and remembered.”
Sophomore Herron student Jack Melton is another creator with two pieces featured, one titled “Found Family” and the other “Audio, Video, Disco.” Both pieces include edited photos on a canvas, portraying emotions and sensations with the use of color and light.
Melton created “Found Family” to represent the emotions that come along with parting from friends in the transition to college.
“I consider them like my family, even though we're not blood related,” Melton said. “
And just visually, I wanted to paint a mental snapshot of how I was feeling. It was very crazy and weird, but really beautiful, moody.”
“Audio, Video, Disco” was produced specifically for the “Shades of Us” gallery, the title being Latin for “I hear, I see, I learn.” The art includes photos taken at a party, representing the enlightening experiences college life has to offer and the growth and inspiration that can bloom from new social situations.
Melton says the gallery was a confidence booster for him as an artist, as well as a good way to connect LGBTQ+ artists to a community of peers and highlight the talents of marginalized students.
“Anytime that we can promote queer voices and promote queer people getting stuff done in this era of people trying to erase that is really meaningful and really cool,” Melton said. “I'd love to see more of that.”
Although almost every artist who contributed to the exhibition showcased two pieces to fill the space, DeWitt wishes more artists had applied in order to represent a wider variety of students.
“I hope more students take advantage of this space because it is such a great space to get your name out there in a non-competitive way,” DeWitt said. “It's just so much fun to see what people are doing, what people are making.”
For the month of March, the Campus Center Cultural Art Gallery will be displaying works by middle and high school students as part of an annual IU partnership with the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards program. New exhibits are set up at the beginning of each month.
Sophie Barker (she/her) is a first-year student majoring in history with a minor in literature. She can typically be found reading, listening to music, drinking something sweet or binge-watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
‘One Table, Many Traditions’: Students unite Ramadan and Lent in interfaith dinner
By Salsabil F. Qaddoura | March 4When Peter Remala was growing up in Egypt, Ramadan lanterns hung outside homes across his neighborhood. As a child, he once made his own paper fanous from an old schoolbook. His neighbors — Christian and Muslim alike — proudly displayed it in the street.
High schoolers across Indiana to receive free admission under IU Indy initiative
By Cristina Bueno | March 3Indiana University Indianapolis is expanding access to higher education for Indiana high school seniors through its seamless admissions initiative, a program that now qualifies nearly 3,500 students for automatic admission for the fall 2026 semester.
REVIEW: The bestselling rock album of each decade: ‘60s to 2000s
By Samantha Stapleton | March 2The bestselling rock albums from each decade effectively show how rock has been influenced and changed over time. From The Beatles to Nirvana, from country rock to punk rock, there is something for everyone within this 50-year range of rock and roll.
