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At just 17 years old, Natalie Tolbert has turned a simple moment of curiosity into a citywide showcase of creativity.

The Marion County teen, who is homeschooled and lives just outside downtown Indianapolis, is the inaugural winner of Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ Design-A-Bus Student Art Contest. Her artwork—now transformed into a full bus wrap—will travel across Indianapolis, giving thousands of residents a glimpse into her artistic vision.

Tolbert said her journey into the contest began unexpectedly.

“We were walking outside of my church, and there was a sign in the grass, and I was like, ‘Oh, that looks fun,’” Tolbert said. 

That spontaneous decision led to a design that captures the essence of Indianapolis through both iconic landmarks and everyday moments. Her artwork features elements like the Salesforce Tower, Monument Circle, trains, and scenes of kids playing basketball—blending recognizable city imagery with personal experience.

“I was trying to show things that kind of represent our city or state, and then also things that you would see on a walk through Indianapolis,” Tolbert said.

She also incorporated symbols rooted in Indiana’s identity, including the cardinal and peony, inspired by lessons she remembered from childhood.

Tolbert hopes her work resonates most with Indianapolis residents who love to live here.

“I hope that people who live in Indianapolis feel like it was done by somebody who also lives in Indianapolis and cares about the city,” she said.

Despite the scale of the opportunity, Tolbert approached the project in a way that felt natural to her creative process by starting with an outline, stepping away, and returning later to complete the design.

“I did most of it in one sitting,” she said, noting that taking a break helped her come back with a fresh perspective.

When she learned she had won, her reaction was simple but meaningful.

“I was excited,” she said, laughing. 

Now, seeing her work displayed on a moving canvas across the city is both new and surreal.

“It’s kind of weird, and it’s kind of exciting,” Tolbert said, smiling. “I haven’t really thought of a bus as a way to display art before.”

For Tolbert, who has “always loved drawing,” the experience has been affirming. Especially as she hopes to work in the art industry in the future. 

“Seeing that my art can be displayed and that people do have an interest in seeing it … that has meant a lot,” she said.

A Family Perspective

For Natalie’s mother, Laura Tolbert, the recognition is both exciting and deeply meaningful.

She recalls her daughter’s creativity taking shape early on, evolving from a childhood interest into a consistent passion.

“Everywhere we went, she was taking a little sketchbook or a notepad and just constantly sketching things,” Laura said.

Encouraging Natalie to enter the contest felt like a natural step.

“It seemed like something that she would have a skill for,” she said, noting her daughter’s connection to both art and the city.

When the news came that Natalie had won, the moment stood out for more than one reason.

“We were at the Final Four practices when I got the email, and it was just really exciting,” Laura said. “It seemed very fitting that we were experiencing something so special in Indy and then finding out about this city-related contest.”

The family’s connection to public transit made the recognition even more personal. Living near a Red Line stop, they regularly use IndyGo to travel downtown for events, including Indiana Pacers games, as half-season ticket holders.

As a parent, seeing her daughter’s work displayed publicly across the city is especially rewarding.

“I’m really excited to have her art be publicly recognized,” she said. “For someone else to take note of it also is just exciting and gratifying for her.”

Art That Moves a Community

For Laura, the partnership between Ivy Tech Indianapolis, IndyGo, and Adsposure represents something larger than a single contest—it reflects the strength and accessibility of the community itself.

“It definitely feels really fitting,” she said. “Our city’s community college and the IndyGo bus system are both very representative of the center of our city’s community.”

Laura added that both organizations play an important role in connecting people to opportunity.

“They’re (Ivy Tech and IndyGo) a good representation and a good opportunity for our community—for people to have good transportation, to be able to go to college. They’re both good things for our city,” she said.

As Natalie’s artwork begins its journey across Indianapolis, it does more than showcase a young artist’s talent; it tells a story of place, perspective, and possibility.

From a yard sign that sparked curiosity to a bus that now carries her vision through city streets, Tolbert’s design is a reminder that creativity doesn’t just stay in the classroom—it moves.

^{All photos taken by Olumuyiwa Akinbobola, Ivy Tech Indianapolis Marketing & Communications Intern.}