“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.”

Artist Anna Murphy took inspiration from the words of poet Rabindranath Tagore as she created these portraits of 43 people whose contributions and legacies helped shape Indianapolis between 1820 and 2020. The mural, a celebration of the city’s Bicentennial, also shines with hope, vision and possibilities for the future.

The 43 legends are surrounded by plants, flowers and animals that have symbolic connections to each person, honoring the journeys of both those who were born in Indiana and those born in another state or country. Indiana’s state bird, the Northern Cardinal, is featured, along with native animals and insects, some classified as endangered. Murphy’s depictions of nature represent the fragility of life, and our responsibility to protect it and plant the seeds for the next generation.

Artist Johnathon Arce and apprentice Phyllicia Carr assisted Murphy. The mural was painted from July to September, 2023.

The mural was installed with the support and participation of:

• The City of Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission
• The Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County
• Pacers Sports & Entertainment
• Indiana Humanities
• Indy Arts Council
• And a committee of over 40 Indianapolis community leaders

The individuals depicted, from left to right and top to bottom, are:

1. Hoagland Howard “Hoagy” Carmichael
2. Mary Ellen Cable
3. Feliciano “Felix” Espinoza
4. Bobby “Slick” Leonard
5. Sam H. Jones
6. President Benjamin Harrison
7. Marshall “Major” Taylor
8. William “Bill” Crawford
9. Roselyn Comer Richardson
10. Melvin “Mel” Simon
11. John Morton-Finney
12. Mari Evans
13. Rev. Andrew J. Brown
14. Julia May (Porter) Carson
15. John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery
16. Dr. Frank Perry Lloyd
17. Herman B Wells
18. Madam C.J. Walker
19. Harriette Bailey Conn
20. Father Boniface Hardin
21. Daisy Riley Lloyd
22. Willard B. “Mike” Ransom
23. Moy Jin Kee
24. Henry J. Richardson Jr.
25. Carolyn “Carrie” Barnes Ross
26. George Pheldon Stewart
27. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
28. May Wright Sewall
29. James Whitcomb Riley
30. Robert Lee Brokenburr
31. Dr. Amelia R. Keller
32. Rabbi Morris Marcus Feuerlicht
33. Mayor William Hudnut
34. Calvin Fletcher
35. Senator Richard Green Lugar
36. Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr.
37. Edna Martin
38. John Robert Wooden
39. Josiah K. Lilly, Jr.
40. Josiah K. Lilly, Sr.
41. Col. Eli Lilly
42. Eli Lilly (“Jr.”)
43. William G. Mays

Learn more about this project, see individual portrait images, and read portrait subject bios here.