The Michael O’Brien Gallery
& the Hoosier Art Salon
Connecting the Arts
Welcome to the Michael O'Brien Gallery, a dynamic space within the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre where the boundaries between visual storytelling and live performance beautifully blur. Our gallery is named in loving memory of Michael O’Brien, the visionary co-owner of Printing Partners and a legendary champion of the Indianapolis arts community.
In keeping with Michael's passion for uplifting local talent, the Phoenix is proud to announce our official partnership with the historic Hoosier Art Salon as of 2026. Founded in 1925, the Hoosier Art Salon is a premier statewide nonprofit that has spent over a century celebrating, promoting, and showcasing the very best of Indiana’s established and rising visual artists.
This collaboration is a perfect match for the Cultural Centre. Both of our organizations share a foundational belief that art should be accessible to everyone, and we are both deeply committed to serving as a launchpad for homegrown creativity. Together, the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre and the Hoosier Art Salon are thrilled to bring you rotating, world-class exhibitions that honor the rich, diverse, and evolving culture of our community.
CURRENT EXHIBIT
The Power of Protest
Sept 1-13
Timed to complement the 2026/27 season opener Everybody’s Favorite Mothers by James Still, this exhibit is about the art and imagery of protest in American society over the years.
By curating a combination of paintings and political posters, The Power of Protest, curated by Lars Lawson, examines the passion and potency of protest. Come see this visual feast of social change and community action while it’s here!
UPCOMING EXHIBIT
An Art Therapist Showcase
September 14-27 brings a unique exhibit to the Michael O’Brien Gallery! For two weeks come see see a celebration of art therapists. You’ll leave understanding their work - appreciating art - in a new way!
Opening Reception is September 19, 6pm - 8pm.
UPCOMING EXHIBIT
October 2026
INDIVIDUATION: The Blackening
A Solo Art Show by Makwolf
INDIVIDUATION: The Blackening is Makwolf's first solo exhibition, presenting a new body of mixed-media works that explore ancestral memory, identity, and spiritual concepts through an Afrocentric lens. Inspired by Carl Jung's concept of individuation, the exhibition reflects the Makwolf's journey of returning to his authentic self through spiritual awakening, ancestral remembrance, and creative purpose.
Centered around the African mask as a symbol of ancestral memory and becoming, each hand-crafted work is an artistic portal that combines laser-cut wood, reclaimed materials, and found objects to tell stories of the Middle Passage, Black justice and liberation, cultural resilience, and the sacred beauty of Black life. INDIVIDUATION: The Blackening invites viewers to look backward in order to move forward, honoring the West African principle of Sankofa and the wisdom of those who came before while embracing the continual evolution of self.
To RSVP for the FREE Gallery Opening on Sat Oct 3, reserve your spot here.
