Meet the Maker: Alex Ann Allen
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Photos: Courtesy of Alex Ann Allen/Indy Arts Council
Meet Alex Ann Allen, a traveling Hoosier muralist who will adorn the Indiana Fever's $78 million Sports Performance Center with a design celebrating Indianapolis as the home of women's hoops.
Driving the news: Allen, a South Bend native who has been creating large-scale interior and exterior murals for seven years, was selected from a field of 65 artists to be a finalist in a contest held by the Indy Arts Council, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the Fever.
- A survey taken by more than 2,200 people picked Allen's 40-by-60-foot piece called "Unity, Legacy, Resilience" to take over the facility's north wall.
The inspo: The design featuring the vibrant color palette and layered geometric forms Allen has become known for pays tribute to the Fever, while recognizing the Circle City as the center of women's professional basketball.
- Allen, who works primarily in aerosol and latex, will be assisted by Ana Escalante, a Venezuelan-born, Indianapolis-based artist chosen as the artist apprentice for the project.
What they're saying: "Alex Ann Allen brings a unique perspective and creative energy to this project, and we're excited to see her work come to life at our new performance center," Indiana Fever president Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement. "We hope the mural adds something special to the space for our players, staff and everyone who passes by the facility each day."
What's next: Allen and Escalante start work on the mural this fall, and the piece will be dedicated before the facility's opening in spring 2027.