Fine Arts Alum Shaunt'e Lewis Brings the Future of College to Life on IndyGo Bus

Thousands of Indianapolis residents and visitors will now encounter a moving work of art celebrating opportunity, innovation, and the future of college. The newly wrapped Ivy Tech Community College bus traveling along IndyGo's Red Line was designed by nationally recognized Indianapolis artist and Ivy Tech Indianapolis fine arts alum Shaunt'e Lewis, whose bold illustrations have become a familiar fixture across the city and beyond.

For Lewis, the project represented more than a high-profile public art commission. It was an opportunity to create something for the college where her journey as an adult art student began.

"People go to school, they graduate, and then they go on to another job. A lot of times they don't get the opportunity to come back and do a project like this for the school they attended," Lewis said. "I was really excited that Ivy Tech thought about choosing someone who actually went to the school and had a connection to it. It was a great opportunity, and I was excited they wanted me to represent Ivy Tech."

The bus, which operates on IndyGo's Red Line, transforms public transit into a moving canvas. Lewis designed the wrap around the theme of "future," drawing inspiration from Ivy Tech's new strategic plan, its evolving brand identity and her own signature typography artwork.

"I had a good brief from Ivy Tech and learned their curriculum is evolving to be more future-focused," Lewis said. "They were really inspired by my Indy artwork with the letters. In Ivy Tech's case, it was 'future.' I customized that style to fit Ivy Tech's vision, and that's where the inspiration came from."

The final design incorporates imagery representing various career paths available through Ivy Tech programs, intentionally moving beyond common perceptions of higher education.

The final concept emerged from a close alignment between Ivy Tech's evolving brand identity as the Future of College and Lewis' signature illustrative style, creating a design that feels both distinctly Ivy Tech and unmistakably Shaunt'e Lewis.

"A lot of people think about nursing when they think about healthcare professions," Lewis explained. "I wanted to show a lab technician, a welder, and other careers people don't always think about. I wanted people to see the variety of opportunities Ivy Tech offers and think outside the box about their future."

The design reflects the many pathways available through Ivy Tech, highlighting careers that continue to help students move toward educational attainment and meaningful employment in Indiana's evolving workforce.

The artwork also features elements of the Indianapolis skyline and a vibrant color palette. While Ivy Tech green remains prominent, Lewis incorporated secondary colors and multiple shades.

"I didn't want to stick to just the basic green," she said. "I wanted to use as many of the colors as I could within the branding guidelines and make it cohesive throughout the bus while still feeling like my artwork."

Public Art on the Move

While Lewis has previously designed vehicle graphics, including a wrapped Lexus and a hand-painted IndyCar, this marked her first bus wrap project. The scale and logistics created unique challenges.

"Working on the bus as a canvas was very different, but I enjoyed the challenge," Lewis said. "The biggest challenge was accounting for the windows because they cut through parts of the design. I had to think about how to make sure important elements weren't lost."

What excites her most, however, is the accessibility that public art provides.

"I always want my artwork to be accessible to as many people as possible," Lewis said. "To have it on a bus driving around the city where multiple people can see it, including people who don't usually get to experience artwork, was really exciting for me. What better way to do that than having it ride around the city every day?"

That accessibility aligns with the values that have become central to Lewis' artistic practice. She intentionally creates work that reflects a broad range of experiences and perspectives so more people can see themselves represented.

"I get a lot of comments about what it means for people to see themselves in the artwork," she said. "That plays a big role in the portraits and images I create. I want people to feel seen."

From Ivy Tech Student to Nationally Recognized Artist

 

Lewis graduated from Ivy Tech Indianapolis after enrolling as an adult learner seeking to reenter the art world. What began as a stepping stone ultimately became the foundation of a flourishing career. Since pursuing art full-time in 2021, she has partnered with nationally recognized brands and organizations, created public art installations, and exhibited work across the country.

Today, Lewis says she is entering a new chapter focused not only on professional success but on defining her long-term legacy as an artist.

"This chapter is about growth, not just as an artist but personally," Lewis said. "I've done a lot of great projects for companies and organizations, but now I'm really focusing on what I want my career to look like long term. I want to create something I can be proud of, make others proud, create a legacy for my family, and make Indianapolis proud."

Among her most transformative recent accomplishments was a solo exhibition in the Hamptons, where she discovered the reach of her work extended far beyond Indianapolis.

"There was a line down the street waiting to get into the show," Lewis recalled. "My heart just dropped. It showed me the future is so much brighter than I imagined, and that my artwork reaches people I don't even know."

Inspiring the Next Generation

As the Ivy Tech bus travels the Red Line, Lewis hopes students will see more than colorful artwork. She hopes they see possibility.

"I hope they're inspired," she said. "I hope they see there's a brighter future and that Ivy Tech can help provide that. Sometimes people think they need to go to a four-year school to have great opportunities, but Ivy Tech is an amazing school that can help people get into the careers they want."

Lewis hopes students who see the bus recognize that opportunity can begin close to home. Through its commitment to affordability and career-focused education, Ivy Tech helps students pursue their goals without putting their futures on hold.

She also hopes students recognize what is possible when they pursue their ambitions.

"I want them to know that someone who went to Ivy Tech designed that bus," Lewis said. "Whether they're studying art, design, or something completely different, I hope they think, 'If she did it, what could my future look like after Ivy Tech?'"

For Lewis, Indianapolis remains central to her story, regardless of how far her artwork travels.

"Indianapolis has been such a great support throughout my career and journey," she said. "I'm not originally from here, but I feel like I'm from here because of the people and the support I get from the community. Whether my artwork is here or somewhere else, it always comes back to Indianapolis because this is where I got my start and where my people are."

Residents can spot the Ivy Tech-wrapped IndyGo bus on the Red Line and learn more about Lewis' work on Shaunt'e Lewis' website. She is also part of Studio C, an artist collective along the Monon Trail in South Broad Ripple, affectionately known as the SoBro neighborhood in Indianapolis.

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