Entrepreneurs Awakening: The Making of a Legacy
The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) remains proud of the relationship forged with the Madam Walker Legacy Center that allowed for the installation of a temporary mural dedicated to Madam C.J. Walker unveiled at the Indianapolis International Airport in February of 2021.
This undertaking between the two organizations is one of several examples of the IAA’s commitment to highlighting impactful local icons, as well as our ability to engage local artists to bring these stories to our travelers.
The mural has been disassembled from its current location in Civic Plaza as we prepare for the opening of the Pacers Courtside Club and a version is located in Concourse A.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority unveiled a massive mural in the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on February 23, 2021, depicting the legendary entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker’s lasting impact on the physical, social, cultural and economic legacy of Indiana Avenue, the iconic Walker Theatre and the City of Indianapolis.
The mural, at 11-feet high and more than 75-feet long, titled Entrepreneurs Awakening: The Making of a Legacy, is an Indiana original work of art that honors Madam Walker’s life and lasting contribution as the first self-made Black female millionaire and the ultimate Indy entrepreneurial inspiration.
Tasha Beckwith, an Indianapolis-based visual artist, was selected by the IAA’s public art selection committee from a nationwide call to create the mural, which was designed digitally and printed on adhesive vinyl. Beckwith’s creation is on display pre-security in Civic Plaza inside the Indy airport terminal and should be available to the public well into 2022. Learn more about the project here.
- Artist: Tasha Beckwith
- Installation: February 2021 - September 2022
- Location: Civic Plaza
About the Artist: Tasha Beckwith is an Indianapolis-based visual artist. She studied painting and drawing at the Herron School of Art & Design, IUPUI, but honed her skills in graphic design and digital art on her own. Her portrait-based work combines expressionism, realism, and surrealism and she cites science fiction, fantasy, and Afrocentric themes as her inspirations. Recent work includes billboards encouraging participation in the 2020 census, participation in an artistic campaign encouraging people to #MaskUpIndy, and the neighborhood history mural inside the brand-new Martindale-Brightwood branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. Beckwith works in a variety of media including digital design, oil painting, and resin. Visit her website to learn more.