Kyng Rhodes is called to painting by his observations of society, a long-held love of art, graphic expression, and his own spirituality. Formally trained as a graphic designer, Rhodes moved away from commercial work to illuminate topics he hopes to see more collective reflection and dialogue around–environmental sustainability, care, and familial relationships. Vibrant color palettes, intricate botanical borders, and stylized figures hallmark his current work, encouraging joy and optimism alongside more complicated stories.
Rhodes earned A.S. In Graphic Design in 2016.
During the summer of 2020, Rhodes participated in several protests against racial injustice which resulted in his participation in Indianapolis’ “Black Lives Matter” mural installed by 18 local artists who later formed a collective in 2021 known as the 18 Art Collective. Rhodes’ work was published in the New York Times in December of 2022 along with other members of the collective as apart of the “We. The Culture” exhibition in the Indianapolis Muesum of Art which opened to the public in September 2022.
Rhodes has also collaborated and worked with serval entities including the Indiana Pacers in which Rhodes was commissioned to create 5 originals paintings celebrating the history of the team, which where installed in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse suites.
Exhibitions
2020 Eighteen: BLM | Indianapolis Art center | Indianapolis, IN
2020 Art of Protest | Herron School of Art | Indianapolis, IN
2021 Eighteen Art Collective : 365+ | Indianapolis Art Center | Indianapolis, IN
2021 Stories of our Community: BLM | Children’s Museum of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN
2021 Butter Fine Art Fair | The Stutz | Indianapolis, IN
2022 Butter Fine Art Fair | The Stutz | Indianapolis, IN
2022 Meet the Artist | Indianapolis Central Library | Indianapolis, IN
2022 18 Art Collective | Saks Fifth Avenue | Indianapolis, IN
2022 We. The Culture | Indianapolis Muesum of Art | Indianapolis, IN
Publications
“GANGGANG leaders bring fine art fair to Indianapolis” Indianapolis Recorder, Breanna Cooper, August 2021
“BUTTER Artist Series: Q + A with Kyng Rhodes” Pattern Magazine, Katie Freeman, September 2022
“‘We. The Culture’: Inside the yearlong wait for Newfields show on Black artist collective” Indianapolis Star, Domenica Bongiovanni, September 2022
“‘Butter 2’ art fair draws thousands of attendees, generates over $250,000 in artwork sales” Indianapolis Star, Claire Rafford, September 2022
“New Gainbridge Fieldhouse galleries depict ‘The Art of the Game’” Indianapolis Business Journal, Dave Lindquist, September 2022
“Indianapolis Preserving And Presenting Its Activist Art From the Tumultuous Summer Of 2020,” Forbes, Chad Scott, November 2020
“2 Years After Racism Outcry, Indianapolis Embraces Black Artists” New York Times, as apart of the 18 Art Collective, Sarah Bahr, November 2022
“Stories & Insights: Meet Kyng Rhodes”, Canvas Rebel Magazine, January 2023
Collaborations
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
GANGGANG
Indianapolis Arts Council
Indianapolis Muesum of Art
Indyvolved
Lilly
Pacers
