In its fifth year, Butter art fair eclipses $1.1M in cumulative art sales

GangGang previewed the fifth edition of its annual Butter fine art fair at The Stutz in Indianapolis on Aug. 28, 2025. (IBJ photo/Lesley Weidenbener)

More than 10,000 people attended the fifth edition of the Butter fine art fair, where 104 artworks sold for $192,000 and buyers included NBA star Tyrese Haliburton and best-selling author John Green.

The Labor Day weekend event at the Stutz, 1060 N. Capitol Ave., reached a milestone of $1 million in sales since Butter debuted in 2021, organizers announced Thursday.

Butter, founded by creative advocacy agency GangGang as an annual showcase for Black artists, is structured so artists collect 100% of each sale. The event collects no commissions on sales and requires no entry fees from artists.

Butter collectors spent the most for artwork in 2023, when sales totaled $285,000. Across five editions of Butter, sales total $1,163,947.

Fifty artists displayed 204 works at this year’s Butter, which occupied two galleries Aug. 28-Sept. 1.

During the event’s preview night, GangGang founders Malina Bacon and Alan Bacon announced a West Coast expansion for Butter. A full-scale edition of the art fair is scheduled Feb. 26-March 1 in Los Angeles. Indianapolis will continue to be the site of Butter on Labor Day weekend.

At the Stutz, Indianapolis-based artist Gary Gee set a Butter record by selling 34 pieces.

The event presented its first Alan Mills Best in Show Award to Houston-based artist Asia Estelle, who displayed ceramic vessels that appear to be made of braided hair.

Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers guard and Olympic gold medalist, acquired pieces by Indianapolis-based artist Israel Solomon and Chicago-based artist Blake Lenoir. Haliburton purchased his first painting by Solomon at the 2024 edition of Butter.

Green, known for books such as “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Everything is Tuberculosis,” acquired pieces by two Houston-based artists, Kaima Marie Akarue and Lovie Olivia.

The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette acquired a painting by Indianapolis-based artist Kevin West, who sold four pieces overall.