Who painted that mural at the Indiana State Fair? Local artists add color to Swine Barn.

A dab of yellow, a splash of blue and a broad stroke of purple, Tiffany Black's memories swirled into life in the mural she painted Thursday at the newly unveiled Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.

Black is one of four other local artists who were selected out of more than 50 applicants to create murals at the century-old Swine Barn, situated along the Indiana State Fairgrounds near 1202 E. 38th St. The 196,000 square-foot building recently underwent a $50 million renovation and was showcased last week during a ceremony attended by Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state fair officials.

Swine and swift feet: Fall Creek Pavilion reopens and will host big pigs and NCAA soon

"This is worthy of such an investment for our state and our citizens," Holcomb said. "You walk up to the building through the doors and you can see the commitment, the heart that was poured into it, the understanding of what this place means to our heritage and history."

Helping to keep that history alive is Black, who — as Holcomb continued speaking — focused her attention on the roughly 100 square feet of wall space near the building's entrance, a canvas of white framed in bricks.

"My theme is music and entertainment," Black said, gripping a palette of paint in one hand. With the other she pointed to bright yellow brushstrokes that would turn into a bandstand. "You'll see a crowd of people here with some musicians, and there's a guy and a little girl, like a Country Western duo, playing their guitars."

The Indiana State Fairgrounds has been an anchor institution along 38th Street & Fall Creek Parkway since 1892 and the State Fair has been elevating the arts since its inception in 1852, according to state fair officials in a message to IndyStar.

"Using local artisans to tell the story of who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going, is a very important piece of our story," a spokesperson said. "Having these custom murals curated by local artists from our community and showcased in our new Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion is a very exciting moment for us."

Black, 37, of Indianapolis, grew up in Danville and has been creating murals for 20 years. Using rich hues of pink, yellow and purple, Black wants to capture the state fair at dusk, when the neon lights of the fairground shine with the promise of fun, she said, "that just keeps on going."

She plans to weave other nighttime elements into the mural, such as a lighted carousel and Ferris wheel, booths selling cotton candy, and prize games with stuffed animals to win. Her favorite memory at the fairgrounds, she said, is riding on her dad's shoulders when she was a little girl.

"I haven't painted that yet, but it's going into the mural," Black said. "That's a special memory."

Artist creating a 'Where's Waldo' of Indiana State Fair imagery

Suspended from a ladder Thursday opposite Black was artist Erik Lundorf, whose piece, he said, was "a big splash" of Indiana State Fair themes.

"It's a celebration of fun," Lundorf said. "For instance, there's fire breathers, dogs jumping for Frisbees, horses and Americana imagery, like barn quilts, deep-fried food, cotton candy, and ice cream. There's also 4H, agriculture, and a tip-of-the-hat to Indiana culture. It's a big 'ol 'Where's Waldo' image of state fair stuff."

Lundorf, 36, of Indianapolis, is an illustrator and designer who's been to the fair multiple times, he said. His favorite memories include hanging out with family and taking in the sights, sounds and positive community vibes. It's something he hopes people experience when they look at his mural.

"I'd love for them to feel a fun wave of nostalgia over happenings at the fair," Lundorf said. "I want them to go, 'Yeah, yeah, I know that' and have an emotionally positive reaction."

Those who visit the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion during the state fair will find murals painted by Black, Lundorf, as well as Alex Allen, and Ginger and KJ Pearson. The artists have roughly a month to complete their murals.

Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion: a place for swine and swift feet

The Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion will serve as a world-class facility for both livestock and athletes, officials said. The building will host the nation's largest swine show, The Exposition, in 2024 and 2025, according to a news release. It's also slated to host the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championship thanks to a portable 200-meter banked track.

The facility will be unveiled to the public during the 2023 Indiana State Fair, which returns for 18 days beginning Friday, July 28 through Sunday, Aug. 20.

Tickets, parking, performances: Everything you need to know about the Indiana State Fair

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: The Indianapolis artists who painted the murals at the new Swine Barn