The Indigenous Pop Expo (IndigiPopX) will make its East Coast debut at Duke University’s Penn Pavilion, November 15–16, 2025, with special events on Friday, November 14.
IndigiPopX, formerly the Indigenous Comic Con, is the original Indigenous pop culture convention—the first of its kind—founded in 2016 to celebrate Indigenous creativity, storytelling, and representation across all forms of popular media by Dr. Lee Francis, IV. This year’s theme, “Continuum,” honors the unbroken thread of Indigenous knowledge, art, and innovation that spans generations.
Tickets are on sale now at www.indigipopx.com! Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and a few vendor spots remain open for artists, makers, and pop culture entrepreneurs interested in joining this landmark event.
IPX 2025 will feature Indigenous celebrities, chefs, filmmakers, comic artists, game developers, fashion designers, and performers from across Turtle Island and beyond. Attendees can experience film screenings, live performances, cosplay contests, artist alley, panel discussions, and youth-centered creative labs.
Special events on November 14 include a VIP Opening Night featuring a screening and Q&A with actress and filmmaker Kaniehtiio Horn (Mohawk), moderated by IPX Director, Tom Farris, followed by the screening of her film, SEEDS. This night is an evening connecting artists, curators, and community leaders ahead of the full weekend programming.
As part of the larger celebration of Indigenous arts at Duke, IndigiPopX coincides with two major exhibitions: “American Indians Go Graphic” at Duke University’s Perkins Library, featuring a range of works by Indigenous pop artists exploring identity, futurism, and visual sovereignty. A companion exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art, presenting Native art that reflects the intersections of tradition and contemporary expression. A public reception prior to Friday night’s kickoff event will be held at the Perkins Library.
“Continuum reflects the idea that Indigenous creativity has never stopped — it evolves,” said Tom Farris (Otoe-Missouria/Cherokee), IPX Director and acclaimed pop artist. “This year at Duke, we’re connecting the past, present, and future of Indigenous art through pop culture, technology, and storytelling. IndigiPopX honors everyone who’s carried this creative fire forward — including the late Jeffrey Veregge, whose visionary work helped redefine what Indigenous art could be.”
The Indigenous Pop (IPOP) Culture Awards will return at this year’s convention, recognizing outstanding Indigenous talent across film, art, fashion, gaming, and media. And returning for 2025, the IndigiQueer Night celebration created by our assistant director will take place Saturday, November 15, at The Velvet Hippo in downtown Durham — honoring Two-Spirit, IndigiQueer, and LGBTQ+ artists, performers, and allies through music, fashion, and joy. The late Johnathan Joss, long time IPX guest best known for his voice work on King of the Hill, will have a new award given in his honor as part of IndigiQueer night.
“IndigiPopX continues to evolve as a space where Indigenous creativity and two-spirit inclusion leads the conversation,” said Kristin Hoover Gentry (Choctaw Nation), Assistant Director of IndigiPopX. “Bringing IPX to Duke University expands our circle and connects Indigenous storytelling with new audiences — all while keeping the heart of community, humor, and representation that makes IPX so loved.”
Featured guests for IndigiPopX 2025 include acclaimed comic artist, Cherokee language revitalizationist, and cultural storyteller Roy Boney, Jr. (Cherokee Nation), Kickapoo artist and musician, Arigon Starr,, celebrated comic creator and storyteller Dale DeForest (Diné), and Gaming is Rezillience owner and content creator, Angee Noel (Chickasaw/Choctaw Nation/Mississippi Choctaw/Mexican), each bringing their own powerful creative vision to this year’s theme, Continuum. Since its founding, IndigiPopX has been recognized as the premier Indigenous pop culture convention in North America—celebrating Indigeneity through art, film, fashion, technology, and storytelling. Past guests have included the late Jeffrey Veregge, Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs/The Lowdown), Johnnie Jae (A Tribe Called Geek Founder) Cara Jade Myers (Killers of the Flower Moon), Jhane Myers (Prey), Stephen Paul Judd (NTVS/Rez Detectives/Marvel), Peshawn Bread (Echo), Shane Hawk, Tamoh Pinkett and Pete Sands, among others.
IPX 2025 is presented in partnership with Duke University and the Indigenous Imagination Workshop.
Discover more from Red Pop! News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
