Kyng Rhodes. Photo courtesy of Francis Nwosu.

Local Legend Kyng Rhodes is back at Newfields. As a visual artist, his works are on display on Floor 2 in Work in Progress: Conversations About American Art. And in our recent exhibition The Source (June 11–August 16, 2026 in the Bret Waller Gallery), Kyng has organized and guest curated an experience that creates space for reflection, connection, and dialogue.

The Source brings together works that examine the identities, histories, and lived experiences of the African diaspora. Through various mediums, this exhibition considers both inherited histories and contemporary realities. The works on view reflect the rich creativity of Black people and Black culture—holding space for stories of resilience, struggle, joyful affirmation, and cultural continuity. Together, these works invite visitors to look closely, reflect deeply, and continue the conversation.

We caught up with Kyng to learn more about his motivation, process, and his latest thinking:

Beth Wood: When we interviewed you last (it’s been over three years!) you were just beginning to expand from painting into other mediums. Can you talk through your decision to feature painting, fashion, and other forms of artistic expression in The Source?

Kyng Rhodes: I don't feel like the story that I was trying to tell could be told through the lens of one medium, and I think it came from my own desire to learn about those mediums. I'm fortunate enough to live in a community that has artists whose work ranges from fashion to sculpture, textiles, and painting—from acrylic to oil. Then you have mixed media and collage. So just admiring those mediums of art, the different art styles and the artists that have chosen to use those to tell their stories or to create. That's what inspired me to include those different media in the exhibition.

BW: Can you further explain the inspiration behind The Source and what the exhibition title means to you?

KR: I’ve got The Source listed in the Notes app on my phone as the title of an artwork for me to create. It revolved around where people of the African diaspora source their inspiration for their creativity, for their culture, and how that's affected the world as a whole and how the world, I feel like, has sourced inspiration from Black culture or from the African diaspora culture. There's a give and take there.

And it ranges all the way back to some of the very more unfortunate times of slavery to hip-hop, fashion, parenthood, or religion. There are so many different aspects of it that are featured in this show through the different artworks. And I thought more about how can I expand this concept and how can it be told through the lens of different artists? So the artists are helping me flesh out that concept through their work, and we were able to tell the story as a collective which I think is really cool.

BW: What conversations do you hope Newfields guests engage in after visiting The Source?

KR: One of my biggest goals is to introduce the community to artists that I feel they aren’t aware of who are doing very strong work, are very passionate about their careers, and have really reachable goals.

A lot of artists sometimes don't get the support that they feel they need in the city that they're living in. Unless you happen to be born in New York or live in New York or Los Angeles. So, they leave and go and become transplants of those cities to try and get some more exposure and to further their career. I'm hoping that the community really notices the talent that's in this exhibition, and they continue to follow those artists' careers and support them.

I also hope that they feel the different ways in which those artists have been inspired through this culture and I hope it leads to them being inspired in some way, regardless of the painting or the artwork or the medium. Art is subjective and people have so many different tastes. That's another reason for people to visit The Source—there's a little bit of something for everyone.

BW: What drove you towards curation as a practice? What are you learning as a curator and exhibition organizer?

KR: I learned so much throughthe curation process and working with full-time artists who have several other things going on, including other exhibitions they’ve agreed to. I was balancing all of that and trying to work with their schedules and figure out what studio time they had available, if they wanted to create something new within the timeline. Curation was not my goal when growing up. I knew I wanted to be an artist. I was always creating and I only ever saw myself as an artist. And then when I started seeing artists in the community announce that they’re curating something, I was able to see what they were able to do by pulling in artists that they were inspired by or whose work they liked. And when I was offered the chance to do it, I'm like, I'm going to take a swing at it.

My first curation opportunity actually came in 2023 with a group called One Drop. These were three artists (one of which is Caleb Davis-Barney who has work in The Source) who were curating, and they invited me to curate an exhibition in Bloomington, IN. Through that I gained some experience of what it’s like to collaborate with other artists and curators and look at a selection of artworks from different artists and make choices on what fits together, what tells the story. We won an award from the city of Bloomington for that exhibition.

BW: Artists supporting artists is a meaningful aspect of the exhibition you have created. Can you discuss how that impacts your practice?

KR: It's important, and it’s easy because each artist has their desire to get the exposure and support. And when you have that desire for yourself, it's easier to understand why or how to support another artist. And through the different engagements that Newfields has made available through June, the day of Juneteenth or the Artful Party or informal conversations in the gallery.

I've watched the artists bond and talk about their processes with each other and follow each other on social media. Some of them even exchange numbers. They’ve embraced each other and, you know, complimented each other's works and things of that nature. There may have even been some critiques.

It’s cool when you see Nigel Badman and Michael Angelo, who are two designers in The Source that have two different ways of approaching their designs and their fashion. They’re talking and complementing each other's works and things of that nature. I see them communicate through social media online too, and they're all really supportive and uplifting each other. Some of them may go on to collaborate or exhibit and do group shows together. And I think that'll all contribute to them bonding and supporting each other going forward.

BW: What excites you about the art scene in Indy?

KR: The opportunity! Since I became really active in 2020, it’s been growing. I keep hearing whispers about “there's a creative renaissance here.” Because Indianapolis, or Indiana as a whole, has been really focused on basketball or the Indy 500. People don't see Indianapolis as an art city or art state in comparison to some of the places that we mentioned earlier, like New York, like Los Angeles, even Philly. Like when I was there with Newfields for the Philadelphia Flower Show and saw all of their murals. It’s so inspiring to see how these cities have transformed through public art and engagement and how they supported their artists.

In Ireland there was a government-initiated stipend for full-time artists to help them maintain their careers throughout the year. And I feel like the Indianapolis scene has had their efforts to try and make that happen with the Arts Council having different grants available throughout the year for artists to apply to, from those allowing artists to take a breather, to the distinction award, to those allowing artists to explore different mediums or a project they’ve been wanting to and maybe they didn't have the money to buy the supplies.

And then we have BUTTER Fine Art Fair that's such a huge vessel for so many artists' careers in the form of exposure. And it's brought so many people from different places into the city. And then they get a chance to see these Indianapolis and Midwest artists and see how talented we are. Even Newfields itself opening up its doors. The Waller Gallery is a good example of the way the art scene here in Indianapolis is being supported.

I'm hoping that it catches fire in other organizations, even organizations that don't identify themselves as creative organizations or arts-based organizations. Like groups of coworkers or teams deciding to go to an event and support or to show up to the exhibition of an artist, even if they can't donate. There's so many different ways to support the community, even just showing up, viewing these artists and telling them what you feel about their work. I've seen that happen here in Indianapolis and it's growing and I'm excited to see where it goes and to help by being part of it.

BW: What's your next project and where can our readers see your artwork around Indy?

KR: My solo show Let there be Light runs through July 23 at Gallery 924, but the one that’s further out and you can support is BUTTER Art Fair (September 3–6, 2026). I’ll have two works exhibited in BUTTER. One is called Purpose, it’s a surreal painting of a young person climbing these large objects (boom box, headphones, microphone, stack of books, stethoscope, graduation cap). The child’s standing on top reaching the divine light that’s a signature staple in my work. I’m telling the story of saying you can go after whatever you want.

The other one is titled Blessed and Highly Favored. It’s a portrait of two twin girls—locals in Indianapolis. They’re very young, I met them at BUTTER 3 outside with their mother. I painted the photograph I took of the two twins embracing. Around them all these cool things are happening. It’s very spiritual, they share the divine light and it tells the story of sisterhood, community, togetherness, and inspiring each other. I’m really excited for guests to see those.

Support the artists and visit The Source at Newfields now through August 16, 2026.

Kyng Rhodes’ work explores the conditions that shape daily life, from family and faith to care for the natural world. His current work often incorporates vibrant color, intricate botanical motifs, and stylized figures that bring joy and hope to complex stories. You can follow Kyng on his Instagram at @kyngrhodes or at his website kyngrhodes.com.