Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy
Zola Lamothe
February 7-March 15, 2025
Opening Reception: February 7, 6-9pm
Free and open to the public
Aurora PhotoCenter, Efroymson Gallery
1125 Brookside Avenue, Suite C9, Indianapolis
In the series Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy, Zola Lamothe recreates intimate family scenes where homes, churches, and livelihoods once stood — right on the land that became the Indiana University Indianapolis campus. Zola’s work honors Indianapolis’ past while confronting the effects of gentrification and transforming viewers into witnesses of a rich cultural legacy that deserves celebration. Her powerful visual storytelling examines the stark contrast between what was and what is, prompting reflection on what could have been. Ultimately, Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy offers a call to action, sparking important conversations about Indiana laws, future reforms, and how we can prevent further displacement.
Zola Lamothe was a 2023 recipient of the Power Plant Grant, a grant run by Big Car Collaborative and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Her series Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy was exhibited at 1000Words Gallery and Madam Walker Legacy Center in 2024, having printed both exhibitions in Aurora’s digital lab. The Aurora installation of Unveiling a Forgotten Legacy brings the over 50 images in the series together for the first time, as well as new contextual elements and a companion publication produced by the artist.
Lamothe lives and works in Indianapolis, Indiana.