Indianapolis Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1883 |
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| Location | 4000 Michigan Road Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collection size | 54,000 |
| Visitors | 442,500 (2019) |
| Public transit access |   34, 38 Indiana Pacers Bikeshare |
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is a large art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is part of a bigger place called Newfields, which is a huge 152-acre campus. Newfields also has beautiful gardens, a nature park, and the historic Lilly House. The museum is about three miles north of downtown Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. It has over 54,000 pieces of art from all over the world, including art from Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. Some special parts of the collection include paintings from the Neo-Impressionist period, Japanese paintings, and Chinese ceramics.
The museum started in 1883 as the Art Association of Indianapolis. It opened its first museum building in 1906. In 1969, the name changed to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The museum moved to its current big campus in 1970. Famous people like May Wright Sewall, who worked for women's rights, helped start the museum.
The museum is known for using new technology and for being open about how it works. In 2008, it became the first art museum to be an Energy Star partner because it worked to save energy. In 2009, it won a special award for its public service, especially for offering free admission and educational programs.
Contents
- History of the Museum
- What You Can See at Newfields
- Art Collections
- Exhibitions and Events
- Art Care and Conservation
- Learning and Access
- Digital Initiatives
History of the Museum
Starting Out (1883–1969)
The Indianapolis Museum of Art began as the Art Association of Indianapolis in 1883. This group, led by May Wright Sewall, wanted to teach people about art. Their first art show in 1883 had 453 artworks!
In 1895, a rich person named John Herron left money for an art gallery and school. The John Herron Art Institute opened in 1902. The Herron Art School and Museum of Art opened in 1906.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the museum grew its art collection. The director, Wilbur Peat, got many important artworks. He also made friends with people who donated art, like Eli Lilly. Caroline Marmon Fesler gave many modern artworks, including pieces by Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Georges Seurat.
In 1966, the family of Eli Lilly donated their large estate, Oldfields, to the Art Association. In 1969, the Art Association of Indianapolis changed its name to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The museum then moved to its new home at Oldfields in 1970.
Moving to a New Home (1970–2011)
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In the 1960s, the museum leaders wanted to create a big cultural campus. They were inspired by a similar idea in Cleveland, Ohio. The museum's new location at Oldfields was perfect for this plan.
The first building, Krannert Pavilion, opened in 1970. More buildings followed, like the Clowes Pavilion in 1972, which held the Clowes family's collection of Old Master paintings. The Showalter Pavilion and Sutphin Fountain were finished in 1973. In 1990, the Hulman Pavilion opened, adding much more space for African and South Pacific art.
In 2005, the museum finished a big renovation project. It added three new wings and 50 percent more gallery space. This made the museum building much larger and more welcoming for visitors. The Efroymson Pavilion became a new entrance, connecting the museum to the outdoor areas.
In 2008, the museum changed its main entrance and address to 4000 North Michigan Road.
Recent Changes (2012–Present)
In 2017, the entire campus and organization changed its name to "Newfields." The "Indianapolis Museum of Art" now refers specifically to the main art museum building. This change was part of a plan to attract more people.
Newfields started new outdoor events like Winterlights, which features millions of Christmas lights, and Harvest, an autumn festival. These events helped bring in many new visitors.
In 2021, the museum opened a remodeled fourth floor called "The Lume." This area has 30,000 square feet of digital art exhibitions. The first exhibit was a cool Van Gogh immersive experience.
What You Can See at Newfields
Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) Building
The IMA building is the main part of Newfields. It holds the museum's huge art collection. Inside, you'll find the ticket office, a gift shop, and a café. There are also spaces for events and performances, like the Pulliam Family Great Hall and the Tobias Theater.
The Lume
The fourth floor of the IMA building is home to "The Lume." This is a large area with digital art projections. When it opened in 2021, it showed art inspired by Vincent van Gogh. Later, it featured art from Claude Monet and other Impressionist artists. There is an extra fee to enter The Lume.
Pulliam Family Great Hall
The Pulliam Family Great Hall is a large space inside the museum. It has several big artworks. This hall is also the main way to get to most of the museum's art galleries. It's used for events like concerts and weddings.
Clowes Pavilion
The Clowes Pavilion opened in 1972. It displays the Clowes family's art collection, which includes many Old Masters paintings. Here you can see famous works like Rembrandt's Self-portrait and three saint portraits by El Greco. The pavilion was updated in 2022, adding a huge LED screen on the ceiling.
The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres
This large outdoor park, called "100 Acres," opened in 2010. It used to be a gravel pit. Now it's a beautiful area with woods, wetlands, open fields, and a lake. There are hiking trails that lead you past unique outdoor art pieces.
100 Acres is one of the biggest art parks in the country. It's special because it always adds new temporary artworks. One famous sculpture here is Funky Bones, which is made of bone-shaped benches. This sculpture was even featured in the book and movie The Fault in Our Stars!
Lilly House
Lilly House, also known as Oldfields, is a historic estate on the Newfields campus. It's a 26-acre property with beautiful gardens. The house and gardens were restored in the 1990s and early 2000s. It's a great example of an American Country Place Era estate.
The house was built between 1910 and 1913. Later, Josiah K. Lilly Jr., a businessman and collector, bought it in 1932. He made many changes to the house and grounds. Today, the 22-room mansion looks like it did when the Lilly family lived there in the 1930s.
The Gardens at Newfields
The outdoor areas east of the Indiana Central Canal are called The Gardens at Newfields. These gardens connect the museum building to the Lilly House. Right outside the museum is the Sutphin Mall and Fountain. The famous Love sculpture by Robert Indiana used to be here, but now you can see Five Brushstrokes by Roy Lichtenstein.
Other gardens include the Richard D. Wood Formal Garden and the Rapp Family Ravine Garden. The Allée is a long lawn in front of Lilly House, lined with 58 red oak trees.
Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse and Garden Terrace
The Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse used to grow plants for the Oldfields estate. The current greenhouse was built in the late 1940s. In 2022, the Beer Garden, which used to be in the greenhouse, moved to a larger spot called the Garden Terrace. The Garden Terrace offers different seasonal beers and ciders.
Other Locations: Miller House and Westerley House
Newfields also manages two other important properties that are not on the main campus.
The Miller House and Garden
The Miller House is a special modern home in Columbus, Indiana. It was designed by famous architect Eero Saarinen in 1953. The home and its gardens are considered a National Historic Landmark. In 2009, the Miller family donated the house and its original furnishings to the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Westerley House and gardens
Westerley House is located south of the museum. It was the home of the Clowes family, who donated many artworks to the IMA. The house has 20 rooms and beautiful grounds. It is used for museum events and was once the home of the IMA director.
Art Collections
The Indianapolis Museum of Art has a huge collection of over 54,000 artworks. These pieces come from cultures all over the world and cover more than 5,000 years of history.
- European Art: This collection includes paintings and sculptures from Europe, both old and modern. You can see famous works like Aristotle by Jusepe de Ribera and The Flageolet Player on the Cliff by Paul Gauguin. Rembrandt's Self-Portrait is also here.
- American Art: This part of the collection features American Impressionism and Modernism. Look for works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Hotel Lobby by Edward Hopper, and Boat Builders by Winslow Homer.
- Asian Art: The museum has over 5,000 Asian art pieces, some as old as 4,000 years! The Japanese Edo Period paintings and Chinese ceramics are especially notable.
- African Art: With more than 2,000 pieces, this collection includes historical and modern objects from all over Africa. It's unique because it displays Islamic and ancient Egyptian works alongside other African art.
- Textile and Fashion Arts: This collection has 7,000 items, including custom-designed costumes from the 20th century by famous designers like Givenchy and Chanel. It also has textiles from different cultures around the world.
- Design Arts: This collection shows how everyday objects can also be art. It includes European and American designs from the Renaissance to today.
- Contemporary Art: Since the late 2000s, the IMA has focused on collecting modern art. You can see works like Two White Dots in the Air by Alexander Calder. The Efroymson Pavilion often features new, temporary art installations.
The museum is also very open about its art collection. It has an online database that lists artworks that are being sold and how the money is used to buy new art. This helps make sure everything is clear and honest.
Selected Collection Highlights
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Jusepe de Ribera, Aristotle (1637)
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Rembrandt van Rijn, Self-portrait (1629)
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J. M. W. Turner, The Fifth Plague of Egypt (1800)
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Katsushika Hokusai, Fine Wind, Clear Morning (c. 1830–1832)
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Paul Gauguin, The Flageolet Player on the Cliff (1889)
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Georges Seurat, The Channel of Gravelines, Petit Fort Philippe (1890)
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Claude Monet, The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (1908)
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John Singer Sargent, Rio dei Mendicanti, Venice (c. 1909)
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Pablo Picasso, Ma Jolie, Nature Morte (Musique) (1913–14)
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Exhibitions and Events
The museum hosts many different art exhibitions throughout the year. These shows often bring in art from other museums around the world.
In 1937, an exhibition called Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century showed 65 pieces, including several by Rembrandt. This show helped the museum become known for its important art.
In 1987, Art of the Fantastic: Latin America, 1920–1987 featured 125 works by artists from many countries. It was the first big show of 20th-century Latin American art in the U.S. in over 20 years.
In 2001, the IMA worked with the Armory Museum in Moscow for Gifts to the Tsars, 1500–1700: Treasures from the Kremlin. This show attracted over 70,000 visitors! Another popular exhibit was Roman Art from the Louvre in 2008, which had 184 pieces from the famous Louvre in Paris.
In 2013, the IMA hosted the first big show in the United States for Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. The exhibition was called Ai Weiwei: According to What?
Newfields also has fun festivals and events.
Winterlights
Winterlights started in 2017. During this event, over a million Christmas lights are strung across the Newfields campus. There's even a light show set to music! This festival happens every year and is a paid event.
Harvest
In October 2019, Newfields introduced "Harvest," an autumn-themed festival. It includes fun activities like pumpkin painting, food tents, and a petting zoo. Harvest Nights features a Halloween-themed path with Jack-o-lanterns and spooky sounds. A ghost story is even projected onto the Lilly House!
Penrod Art Fair
The Penrod Art Fair has been held at Newfields since 1968. It's known as "Indiana's Nicest Day." This is the largest single-day art fair in the United States. In 2016, over 20,000 people and 300 artists attended!
Art Care and Conservation
The IMA has a special department that takes care of the artworks. This is called the conservation department. It started in 1970 and quickly became known for its excellent work. They help preserve paintings, textiles, drawings, and other objects.
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The department uses advanced tools, like computer-based X-ray units, to study artworks. In the 1980s, the head conservator, Martin Radecki, even helped find over two dozen fake paintings! He then created an exhibit to show how forgeries are discovered.
In 2010, the IMA changed how it controls the temperature and humidity in its galleries. They found that most artworks could handle small changes, which helps the museum save energy and be more eco-friendly.
Conservation Science Lab
In 2008, the IMA received a grant to create a special conservation science lab. This lab researches the materials used in the museum's collection, like fabrics in fashion and glazes on Asian ceramics. The lab helps the museum become a leader in art conservation.
Learning and Access
Admission
For many years, the museum offered free admission. This helped more people visit and enjoy the art. In 2007, they started charging a small fee for non-members, but then brought back free admission. In 2015, they started charging again, and the price increased in 2022.
Education
The IMA offers many educational programs. Viewfinders is a program for local students that teaches them critical thinking and communication skills through art. The museum also provides classes, lectures, and tours of its collections and gardens.
The Star Studio is a fun, interactive gallery where visitors can make art inspired by the museum's exhibitions. Many volunteers, called docents, help lead tours and programs.
Accessibility
The IMA works hard to make sure everyone can enjoy the museum. They have captions on videos, large print guides, and accessible seating. The 100 Acres park has wheelchair-accessible trails. The museum also partners with schools for the deaf and blind.
In 1993, the IMA opened the Garden for Everyone. This garden is wheelchair-accessible and designed to engage all your senses with fragrant plants and sculptures.
Digital Initiatives
Newfields Lab
In 2010, the IMA launched IMA Lab, now called Newfields Lab. This team helps the museum use technology to improve visitor experiences. They created a mobile tour app for iPod Touch that gives visitors more information about the art. They also developed a virtual reality experience of the Miller House.
Newfields Lab also helped create Museums for Digital Learning. This website helps teachers use digital art resources in their classrooms.
ArtBabble
In 2009, the IMA launched ArtBabble, a website with videos about art. It featured interviews and documentaries from the IMA and other museums around the world. While it's no longer active, it was a great way to share art with a wider audience.
