Sunflowers by Brooke McGee in Indianapolis

Hi! I’m Brooke McGee, a visual artist currently based in Indianapolis, Indiana. As of May 2026 I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Butler University. Though my academic studies were technically outside the arts, my psychology background has strongly shaped my creative practice. Specifically my desire to explore and communicate stories through multiple means of visual transmission. To accomplish this, my paintings often combine realistic portraiture with various texts, symbolism, iconography and heavily researched visual detail to construct in-depth narratives reflecting my subject matter. By bringing together multiple forms of visual and written communication, I aim to create work that offers multiple points of view and encourages viewers to engage with the subject from different perspectives. Since moving to Indianapolis in 2022, my experience with the vibrant and diverse art community here has also made me fall even more in love with public art. I believe that murals and public art can brighten any space, but more importantly, they make art accessible in people’s everyday lives. Public art has the ability to meet people where they are, outside of traditional gallery spaces. In my mural work, I am especially drawn to both portraiture and incorporating detailed imagery, natural elements, and plant life into cityscapes. I love the contrast between architectural spaces and organic forms, and I often use flowers, vines, leaves, and other botanical details to soften urban environments and bring a sense of life into them. For me, adding plant life to public artwork is a way to connect people back to nature, even in the middle of a city.