Support Indy’s Social Justice Art Gallery!
The latest installment of the Artist Spotlight series at the Fonseca-Du Bois Gallery explores “Sopa de Letras,” the current exhibition curated by Indiana Latino Arts and featuring artists from the 2025 LAMP (Latino Artist Mentorship Program) cohort. Through conversations with curator Andie Ariana Gomez and exhibiting artists Johnny Willems, Sheila Nayeli Clemente-Zoto, Elena Guadiana Segovia, and Avery Miller, the video reveals how personal histories, cultural identity, and queer experience intersect to create a powerful collective exhibition.
LAMP started three years ago by Daniel Del Real and Eduardo Luna. “The reason this program is important is because we’re helping to level the playing field for Latino artists to get opportunities where they couldn’t do it on their own,” said Del Real. “Those who don’t know how to navigate the arts space as many are first generation or from families that aren’t arts oriented. This program helps open doors for them where those doors are traditionally closed.”
Rather than centering a single artist, Sopa de Letras embraces the richness of many identities existing together. The exhibition’s title reflects the idea that identity is rarely singular; it is layered, interconnected, and constantly being discovered. Across painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and mixed media, each artist contributes a distinct perspective while participating in a broader conversation about belonging, family, faith, and gender.
Throughout the interviews, artists reflect on the deeply personal stories behind their work. Clemente-Zoto discusses the journey toward embracing both her Mexican heritage, growing up Mormon, and her identity as a queer woman. Guadiana Segovia explores the relationship between religion, persecution, and contemporary struggles, drawing connections between personal experience and global events. Miller shares how grief & ancestry shaped a work inspired by the final words of a beloved grandfather. Willems examines masculinity, intimacy, and political solidarity through the visual language of wrestling, while Gomez’s work celebrates queer joy and the importance of creating spaces where marginalized artists can be fully seen.
A thread running throughout every interview is the importance of community. Each of the featured artists came together through Indiana Latino Arts‘ LAMP program, where mentorship evolved into collaboration, friendship, and mutual support. Their conversations remind us that artistic practice grows through shared experiences and spaces where artists can learn from one another.
“To me it’s important because it creates community and a space where Latino artists can engage with each other and produce ideas and initiatives of their own,” said Eduardo Luna. “And it’s my pleasure to support artists in Indiana.”
The Indianapolis Liberation Center and Fonseca-Du Bois Gallery are proud to provide one of those spaces. As Gomez notes in the spotlight, Indianapolis is filled with opportunities for artists willing to show up, support others, and participate in building creative communities that reflect the diversity of the city itself.
We invite you to watch the latest Artist Spotlight video and also to experience “Sopa de Letras” in person at the Fonseca-Du Bois Gallery until July 15th. Together, these works offer a moving exploration of identity, memory, and the power of community to create spaces where everyone can belong.