Pave the Way for the Arts

Honor, show gratitude, and make a lasting tribute with a commemorative brick placed in the ForeverTogether Plaza: In Memory of Will and Joe Lawrance. 

The ForeverTogether Plaza is a tranquil space in ArtsPark along the White River, dedicated to moments of quiet reflection. Meditate under the trees, take inspiration from the ever-flowing stream of water, and dedicate a piece of this space to meaningful people in your life. From beloved instructors to friends from class, family members and dear friends, we welcome your own unique stories and memories into this space. 

When you purchase a brick in the ForeverTogether Plaza, you invest in a lasting impact on the Indy Art Center, ArtsPark, and our creative community built through art. This tranquil gathering space of personalized, engraved bricks allows you to enjoy your own piece of the Indy Art Center. 

ForeverTogether Plaza: In Memory of Will and Joe Lawrance is made possible by the Brave Heart Foundation. We thank them for their generous support. 

This story contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or by dialing 988.

JoeWill: BetterTogether is a two-person exhibition of artworks by Joseph and William Lawrance in the Frank Basile Creative Wellness Gallery. Through diverse media, themes, and subjects, BetterTogether tells the stories of two burgeoning Indianapolis-born artists whose lives tragically ended as young adults. Joe and Will Lawrance, born in 1985, were identical twin brothers that shared a deep, powerful bond. The two were so interconnected and inseparable that their names morphed into the compound name, JoeWill, as a means of referring to their collective identity.

The work featured throughout BetterTogether is inextricably connected to the bond the brothers shared and illustrates their personalities, interests, and deeply felt emotions. The Lawrance twins grew up to be incredibly talented and nationally recognized artists. Some called them prodigies. Their artistic talent became more fully developed as they attended North Central High School, where they took every art class possible. They could draw, paint, and create 3-D sculptures that were sophisticated and intricate.

In 2003 there was a notable event that in hindsight was clearly traumatic and life altering. Joe was accepted to study in New York City at The Cooper Union and Will was not. This separation is described by Joe and Will’s family as being an escalation in their struggles. Joe graduated from The Cooper Union Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture in 2010, and Will graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008. During their college years, each suffered from anxiety, depression and substance abuse. Both sought treatment for these afflictions but tragically their underlying disorders prevailed. Will died by suicide in 2011. Immediately afterwards Joe expressed, “I feel like half of me died too.” Joe’s mental health struggles continued, and he became increasingly withdrawn as he attempted to cope with the trauma and grief of losing his brother. Joe died by suicide in 2017. BetterTogether traces the creative prowess of the Lawrances, the significance of art-making as a means of self-expression, and the profound impact these two artists leave behind.

We are immensely grateful to Joe and Will’s parents, Mark and Jan Lawrance, for their generosity, openness in sharing their story, and for placing their trust in us with this important project. To the community that came together to make this possible, thank you for your help in bringing this project to fruition and your support in the belief that we are all BetterTogether.