Matthew Cooper, an artist based in Indianapolis, creates a modern triptych on the boarded-up windows of Old City Hall. The center panel depicts a Black man actively addressing the public space. He is flanked by two regal Black women who stand in profile. There is a balance between beauty and pain, exaltation and realism that pervades and connects these three portraits.

Matthew Cooper is one of the artists commissioned by the Arts Council of Indianapolis to create murals in response to the Black Lives Matter protests.  In a recent interview with Green Loop Marketing, Cooper explained the inspiration for his three-part mural: “What inspired these 3 pieces I would have to say [is] everyday people. The middle figure is a wrongfully committed Black male [in a] mugshot and the side images are female figures that to me feel like his protective spirit[s]. I wanted to create something that allows African-Americans to smile during this time, for us to remember our history.” As a response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Cooper’s mural speaks to ineffable traumas, illustrates resilience, and perhaps most importantly aims to generate Black joy.   
 
During his 2019 Young Artist Apprenticeship with the muralist ISH (Ismael Muhammad Nieves), Cooper transitioned from an oil painter to a mural painter. Cooper worked with and studied under ISH during the creation of his 2019 mural “Three Kings.” ISH’s mural was commissioned by Jiffy Lube of Indiana (a 2019 Arts and Business Partnership Awardee) as part of their mural project. The mural project, initially created in 2016 by Indiana franchisee Steve Sanner, commissions local artists to create collaborative murals for its stores. The mural project has been and remains a prime example of how arts and businesses can forge symbiotic relationships with one another. As a result of its program, Jiffy Lube of Indiana has enjoyed record profits and attracted a slew of new customers. The program has also elevated the careers of mid-career muralists, reinvested in the community it serves, and jumpstarted the careers of younger artists.

Cooper believes his past apprenticeship has prepared him for his current role as lead artist. Working under muralist ISH, Cooper learned “so many small things… like having two buckets to properly clean your brushes” and “how to paint smarter and not waste money wasting paint.” These invaluable lessons continue to support him as he transitions from being an apprentice to having his own in under a year. Importantly, the success and subsequent exposure Cooper enjoyed during Jiffy Lube’s mural program eventually led his current commission with The Arts Council of Indianapolis.  

Jiffy Lube of Indiana remains invested in Matthew Cooper, even as he has graduated from its mural program. The Indiana franchise has donated additional money to Cooper’s current project, ensuring he makes a profit. Jiffy Lube of Indiana plans to focus their support on the artists who have participated in the mural program. Through its past and current support of its Black artists, Jiffy Lube of Indiana continues to uplift the Indianapolis community.