Photographer / Michael Durr
Art is the lifeblood of the human experience. While its meaning varies from person to person, there’s a shared understanding that art is essential to what it means to be alive. It allows people to process complex emotions and brings meaning to struggle, joy, life and death.
Today, art takes many forms — from crafting sushi to sculpting driftwood, creative expression knows no bounds.
From its ancient roots, mural painting is among the many artistic outlets that continues to flourish today.
Michael Martin, better known as Kwazar, has built a career by following his creative instincts. A native of Indianapolis’s east side, he discovered his passion for art early in life. By the age of 7, he was already drawing regularly and gravitating toward school art classes. His talent didn’t go unnoticed; teachers took note, and by third grade, one of his pieces was featured at the Children’s Museum.
As Kwazar grew, so did his artistic influences. They weren’t limited to traditional visual artists; his inspiration came from a wide range of creative minds — musicians, fashion designers and sculptors alike. Figures like Jeff Koons, Pharrell and Nigo, along with his love for lowrider magazines, helped shape and expand his artistic vision over the years.
He has explored many different mediums over his career, including illustration, tattooing and canvas work.
Today, Kwazar is a celebrated muralist, with his work featured throughout Indianapolis and in cities across the country.
He began exploring murals during the pandemic, and since then, his style has continuously evolved — shaped by each new project, fueled by fresh ideas and driven by an ongoing commitment to artistic growth.
“Over time, I’ve learned to always allow myself the freedom to pivot when needed,” Kwazar says. “Whatever I end up doing will be art-related, because that’s just who I am. But I make sure to stay open and explore different spaces so I can grow as much as possible.”
Kwazar’s work is woven into the fabric of Indianapolis, with one notable example being his mural at The Toy Pit, the city’s largest and longest-running toy store. His design captures the spirit of the shop, bringing its playful energy vividly to life while also displaying the scope of his talent.
“The Toy Pit mural is one of my favorites by far,” Kwazar says. “The reason I say that is that it showcases such a wide range of my work. You’ll see everything from realism to cartoon styles, flat designs to 3D looks. There’s Bart Simpson, Miles Morales, Ultimate Warrior — just a mix of different styles all on one wall. It’s like a snapshot of everything I can do.”
As a proud Indianapolis native, Kwazar set out to celebrate some of the city’s most cherished institutions — its sports teams. His mural of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark quickly went viral, shining a national spotlight on both his work and the city he calls home.
“I actually dropped the artwork before draft day, and it caused a whole stir online,” Kwazar says. “People were asking, ‘Is she really coming to Indiana?’ and wondering why I would post it before anything was official. It sparked a lot of controversy and conversation. Then the Indiana Fever posted it with the caption ‘We’ve been ready,’ almost like a response to all the buzz. That moment was wild.
“Before that, I had already done a piece on Haliburton. I created it for All-Star Weekend and only had about three days to pull it off. I just threw it up there, and funny enough, it got even more attention than another project I did.
“After that, we had the Fever and Pacers represented, and I thought, We just need a Colts player now. Then Anthony Richardson came along, and that completed what I call the ‘Big Three.’ So now there’s a piece for each major Indianapolis team, and that was the whole idea: creating a sports wall that represents everybody.”
Most recently, Kwazar completed a large-scale, fantasy-inspired mural for Elfen Moon, a Fountain Square-based company. Drawing heavily from fantasy themes, the piece showcases his ability to blend imagination with bold visual storytelling.
As his artistic journey evolves, Kwazar is setting his sights beyond Indianapolis. He hopes to bring his work to creative hubs like Wynwood in Miami or Bushwick in Brooklyn, and dreams of one day collaborating with a brand like Nike.
Whatever the future brings, Kwazar will use his unique style and voice to convey striking imagery.
Life moves fast, and few people can point to a lasting legacy etched on city walls — but Kwazar can. His art is more than expression; it’s a vital thread in the cultural fabric of Indianapolis.
For more information about Kwazar, visit kwazarmartinart.com or follow him on social media.
