Our Founder and Executive Director Sarah Boutwell started as a local artist displaying her nature photography in 2012 at coffee shops and art galleries. Although she had been doing photography since 2004, she didn’t consider herself an artist until she was welcomed into the art community in Indianapolis with open arms. She quickly became aware of the untapped talent in our community and the need to spread art throughout our neighborhoods.

Starting Re-Generation Indy in 2015 she strives to not only find opportunities for the youth and established artists, but she makes everyone feel like family. The heart of this cause started with her and has rippled out to the whole city. Her passion for ensuring everyone has access to art and it’s creation is our underlying current that keeps us going.

Andre’s murals brighten up our city and his other artwork has so much detail, it’s beyond incredible. We’re honored to have him teach not only our shading technique class but to have him as an encouraging mentor to the youth artists throughout the whole process all the way to displaying and selling their work. He is a huge inspiration to these young creatives and uses his art to speak volumes.

Andre's illustrations, unfinished inventories of thought probing. Familiar faces, textures, emotions, robust color, and social constructions are likely subjects. All acting as improvisational subject matter that reinforces this worlds reflections. Creating mostly Interactive and provocative art work, inviting the viewer's critique. Often relying on inner desires for beauty, understanding, expression and connection.

Onye is a geometric bead artist that has had a passion for handicrafts throughout her life, beginning in elementary school. She taught herself some basic stitching techniques with seed beads, then began making and selling jewelry to her friends and classmates. Moving quickly forward to about 2007, she became fascinated with three-dimensional beading, specifically made with geometric concepts. Her primary method of creating art is weaving beads. Whether it is to be an adornment for the body (wearable) or adornment for personal space (sculptural), her art is always driven by and created from a place of geometric spatial exploration and interaction.

She’s enjoyed various creative opportunities, such as being a member of the BeadInfinitum.com Design Team, creating art for the Indianapolis Downtown Public Library’s Meet The Artist exhibit, styling models at several local fashion events, teaching for Re-Generation Indy, teaching at the Bead and Button Show, and creating commissioned artwork for private clients as well as collaborative work with other jewelry artists. Additionally, her beaded artwork has been published in the American Mathematics Society 2021 calendar, the Bridges Organization & Joint Mathematics Meetings online galleries, and “1000 Beads”, a Lark Crafts Publishing book.

Jerome Goff is a creator in natural form. Drawing and painting since age 5, Jerome went on to Kentucky State University and Majored in studio art. After years of stepping away from art, his passion was ignited again by becoming an art teacher. His art style began from studying Salvador Dali and Picasso.

He is very inspired by the youth and they have propelled him to be the creator he is today. The Re-Generation family is excited to welcome him and we can’t wait to see all the creations and connections made through his inspiring artwork.

Alexis is a young artist specializing in digital artwork and original character creation. She has been creating art and illustrations since she was very young with traditional media. When she was thirteen years old she discovered digital art and got her first digital drawing tablet which evolved her art into creating imaginary fantastical worlds where the characters she created lived. Since then she has designed many original characters for people who have commissioned her. Her digital art can be seen on various social media profiles on platforms such as Twitch, Twitter and Discord.

She discovered the Re-Generation Indy family in 2017 when she took her first class with her Girl Scouts of America Troop. Since then she has been involved with every Re-Generation Indy workshop season, expanding her knowledge with classes as well as volunteering to assist the lead artists. In 2018 she grew into a teaching artist herself when she taught her first digital art workshop. With the program she was given the opportunity to participate in many successful youth art shows. Her biggest achievement during an art show was her music-inspired watercolor collection at Square Cat Vinyl where every single piece of art that was displayed sold. In 2019 she was a contributing artist with the community project mural in Fountain Square collaborating with other Re-Generation Indy teaching artists and youth artists. She looks forward to future inspiration both for herself and other aspiring youth artists.

Tilly is the owner & operator of Escaping Oblivion, initially curated as a platform for selling artwork created while experiencing states of mania and severe anxiety. She felt hopeless & alone on her mental health journey, so she expanded her vision & purpose beyond her own emotion- so that others wouldn't feel so alone during their battles with mental illness. Art went from something she had an innate talent for into something that she relied on for healing and a means of escape from the conscious realm.

Shortly after creating "Escaping Oblivion" a new journey of holistic healing began. As she was intentional with my healing process, the heart to become an advocate birthed.

“I believe you must bring your entire being to the table if you want to thrive above today’s unpredictability; living your truth in this world is vital to growth. My truth has led me on this path of healing with you. As I know the hand we're dealt isn't always ideal, I can assure you there is a light at the end of the tunnel after years lost to trauma & mental health issues. You can still create a beautiful reality and thrive into your purpose of life and destiny-in which you deserve.”

Ess has been teaching with us from the beginning and we couldn’t be more proud to have her as part of the family. She continues to impress the city with her standout art skills in multiple disciplines. Her work is currently being shown in the We Are The Culture Exhibit at the IMA and she displays her art in several other galleries as well.

Her love for Hip Hop culture has had a big impact on the workshops she leads for Re-Generation Indy including our Hip Hop 101 workshop that she led with local poet Manon Voice and the upcoming Street Art 101 workshops she is going to lead at the Indianapolis Public Libraries.

“Much of what I create is in homage to the people, places, sights, and sounds that continuously mold my style and creative outlook. My work has journeyed from pen and ink, to graphic prints, and currently to mixed media and acrylic paint on a variety of surfaces. The themes have varied, but often touch on subjects of hip hop culture, race, and social justice.”

Make sure to follow her on social media and treat yourself to seeing her work in person!

Our cartoon illustrator extraordinaire has also been teaching with us since 2015, volunteering countless hours encouraging the youth to use their imagination. Her skill for creating detailed, cute and sometimes hilarious animals is untouched. Her work has been published in children’s books and she hopes to continue this journey toward full-time children’s illustration. This makes it exciting every time our community gets to do a workshop with her.

From the Herron School of Art to teaching full-time, she still finds time to run her Arty Parties and grace us with her presence. Her knowledge is well-rounded and her talent is impeccable, we truly are lucky to have her in our Re-Generation Indy family.