Printmaker Johnny Willems, 24, explores his passion for wrestling in a new exhibition titled “Sopa de Letras” at the Fonseca-Dubois Gallery inside the Indianapolis Liberation Center. The show features five queer Latino artists—including Andie Arana Gómez, Elena Guadiana Segovia, Avery Miller, and Sheila Nayeli Clemente-Zoto—and includes photography, printmaking, paintings, and mixed media. Willems created risograph prints such as “Intricate Rituals #1” and “Intricate Rituals #2,” which depict wrestling scenes from a 1970s guidebook, highlighting intimacy and queerness within the sport. The exhibition runs through July 12, 2026, with most artwork not for sale.
This exhibition matters because it centers the experiences of queer Latino artists in the Midwest, a region where many lack strong connections to immigrant culture. By using wrestling as a lens to explore identity, masculinity, and sexuality, Willems and his fellow artists challenge stereotypes and offer nuanced representations of queerness and Latinidad. The show also intentionally avoids Pride Month clichés, instead presenting a thoughtful, culturally specific dialogue about visibility and belonging in a politically challenging environment.