Working in an Afrofuturistic theme, in Gatekeepers artist Tasha Beckwith centers a Black woman figure she imagines to be a queen/mother spirit watching over the neighborhood. The Black male figures on either side of the Queen provide security and oversee her work. The Adinkra symbol of transformation on all of their foreheads represents the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and holds meaning for Flanner House as well.  A sweeping graphic in the background moves the viewer’s eye through the composition.  Beckwith’s goal for this mural is that it welcomes visitors to the community, and also provides a sense of pride for community members.

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.