Designing the Future: Ruth E. Carter Exhibit Brings Afrofuturism to Center Stage
From Wakanda to Wall Street, costume designer Ruth E. Carter has influenced how the world sees culture, identity, and possibility. Now, her vision is taking center stage in Indianapolis, inviting families, leaders, and changemakers to imagine a future shaped by creativity, equity, and inclusion.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is currently hosting Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, a groundbreaking exhibit that merges art, culture, and storytelling. Carter, a two-time Academy Award-winning designer known for her work in Black Panther, Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing, and Selma, was the first Black person to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design. She is also the first costume designer to win Academy Awards for a film and its sequel. Her legacy is one of representation—elevating stories and identities often overlooked in Hollywood and beyond.
As Carter explains, “Afrofuturism plays a huge role in my work, especially in films like Black Panther. It’s about honoring the past while imagining what’s possible for the future.”
This immersive exhibition features over 60 original costumes from Carter’s four-decade career, alongside hand-drawn sketches, mood boards, and the childhood sewing machine that started it all. Interactive design activities, mood board workshops, and live programming are designed to inspire the next generation of creators—and invite all of us to consider the power of visual storytelling in shaping cultural narratives.
Why It Matters to Business Equity for Indy
At BEI, we know that inclusion isn’t just advanced in boardrooms or policy roundtables—it’s carried through community, creativity, and the spaces where culture is shaped. This exhibit exemplifies the connection between representation and opportunity. It reflects a deeper truth: that exposure to inclusive stories can change a child’s future trajectory—and, by extension, our workforce.
Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum, puts it best:
“Carter’s celebrated exhibition of storytelling through costume design takes us on a transformative journey through the narratives of our past, present, and future, inspiring young minds, igniting creativity, and shaping imaginations in ways that can profoundly influence their life trajectory.”
Through partnerships with organizations like GANGGANG and the Madam Walker Legacy Center, The Children’s Museum is intentionally amplifying Black creativity and inviting local audiences to engage with Afrofuturism as more than a style—it’s a movement rooted in equity.
As corporate leaders, we have a role in ensuring the next generation sees themselves in the stories we tell, the industries we lead, and the futures we’re building. We encourage our BEI partners to explore this exhibit as a cultural experience and a case study in inclusive storytelling, innovation, and impact.
Support inclusive programming. Sponsor field trips for local students. Take your teams to experience the exhibit together. Start a conversation in your workplace about the intersection of creativity and equity.
Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design runs through September 7, 2025. Admission is included with general entry. Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/ruth-carter-afrofuturism
Let’s honor the power of design, representation, and imagination to help shape a more equitable future for all.
Photo credit: Colin Gray
