Hope Gallery Gives Evansville’s Disabled Community a Chance to Shine
The Hope Gallery Is Showing Evansville What People With Disabilities Can Do
If you've ever met me, you know that I have a passion for horses. My daughter started taking lessons several years ago, and her passion blossomed into us owning a couple of our own.
We board them at a barn in Elberfeld, and since I don't have the time or desire to ride my personal horse all that often, I loan him to the barn to do lessons. He's a really chill dude, so he gets to hang out with little kids and even some special needs folks.
I've been at the barn when a young man named Alex would come in for his ride on Tuesday mornings. Alex didn't know me from Adam, but he'd always greet me with a hug. You see, Alex is an adult on the autism spectrum.
I loved Alex's hugs. So warm, happy, and carefree. He's a special young man.
In fact, he's so special that he was the inspiration behind not one, but two art galleries in Indiana.
How Hope Gallery Started
Several years ago, when Alex was still in high school, his parents, Jennifer and Andrew Parker, were trying to help him find a job. Unfortunately, Alex's disabilities limited his opportunities.
They knew that Alex and his friends had a lot to give, so they decided to create opportunities themselves and do some good in the community while they were at it.
Andrew and Jennifer The Alex and Ali Foundation in 2014. It is a nonprofit organization that empowers young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities and vocational training and is named after Alex and his best friend, Ali Callahan.
The first Hope Gallery opened outside of Indianapolis in 2018. The gallery is named after Alex's sister, Hope, who passed away at 13 from a congenital heart defect.
Though Hope had limited verbal and communication skills, she also had so much to give, and the family wanted to honor her legacy.
If you have a chance to stop by the Downtown Bargersville location, be sure to get a sweet treat and check out their art! They offer a variety of desserts including ice cream treats, baked goods, and candy and also fresh flowers!
When the family moved to the tri-state, they once again had a hard time finding a career path for Alex. So, they decided that our community also needed a Hope Gallery. In 2022, they opened the second Hope Gallery in Indiana.
They originally rented space in Newburgh but quickly outgrew it. They have had over 250 team members throughout the past few years, and they not only needed retail space, but also a place to work. So, they moved into their current location on Green River Rd right by Holy Rosary, and the mission has only grown.
Art Made by People With Disabilities
Hope Gallery features art, crafts, and goods made by people with disabilities from all over the world. The goal is to create products that people actually want to buy while giving Team Members the opportunity to show their skills and abilities.
Products include blankets, placemats, fire starters, paintings, beadwork, greeting cards, and even pet products. They also make amazing art and take custom orders.
The gallery teaches Team Members valuable job and life skills, including working as a cashier, counting money, customer service, and learning how to make the products they sell.
Team Members learn skills such as sewing, weaving, painting, acrylic work, beadwork, and jewelry making.
The Community Can Help Teach New Skills
One of the coolest parts about Hope Gallery is that they allow folks from the community to come in and help teach Team Members new skills. They're currently looking for people who can help teach sewing, weaving, jewelry making and card making.
So if you've got a skill you've been doing for years, there's a chance you could share it with someone else and help them learn something new.
Hope Gallery Gives Back to the Community
Not only do the Team Members create sellable art, but they also perform various tasks for free, including document shredding, coin wrapping, and gift wrapping.
YES! FREE GIFT WRAPPING!
Though I would suggest giving a donation to help the gallery continue its work.
Save this one for Christmas.
How You Can Help Hope Gallery
People can volunteer their time, donate money, or donate physical supplies that can be used to make products.
Volunteering is a huge part of why Hope Gallery is so successful. The gallery also relies on people who are willing to share their skills and teach Team Members new things.
The annual gala is coming up as well. The fifth annual Night of Hope Gala supporting The Hope Gallery Tri-State will be held Friday, November 20, 2026, from 5:30 to 11:50 p.m. at Warehouse 410, located at 410 Carpenter St. in Evansville.
Team Members are not charged to participate in the program, and all the money raised from sales goes back into the program.
At the heart of it all is community inclusion and support. Hope Gallery is showing just how much people can do when they're given the opportunity, and they want to continue growing and serving even more people.
I encourage you to stop by and purchase some gifts, and while you are there, ask about volunteering. Check out what they have available! And if they don't have what you are looking for, no worries! They create custom pieces as well.
LOCATION
1109 S. Green River Rd., Evansville, IN 47715
HOURS
Monday & Tuesday (12pm-4pm)
Wednesday - Friday (10am-4pm)
Saturday (10am-2pm)
Sunday (closed)
PHONE
(812) 807-6164
See Inside
See Inside The Hope Gallery in Evansville IN
Gallery Credit: Ashley S