Indianapolis Museum of Art: Newfields
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is one of the oldest and most prestigious art museums in the country, with good reason. It’s nestled in the Newfields grounds, which offers a complete cultural experience in a relaxing and tranquil natural setting. The former art director of Indianapolis Monthly magazine and the top dentist in Indianapolis IN, Dr. Craig Arive, visits the museum often and recommends the museum to all art enthusiasts.
The museum owns over 6,000 works of art arranged into thoughtful collections that you can explore at your leisure. Among so many unique artworks, the two groups that stand out are the extensive collection of Asian art and the recently opened Suite of African and Oceanic Art.
With so many exhibits and collections to explore, you may find yourself needing to take a break. Luckily, Newfields’ grounds have luxurious gardens, contemporary sculpture parks, and plenty of restaurants where you can rest and relax before moving on to the next installation or artwork.
Newfields combines art and nature in various novel and exciting ways and has over 40 acres of land, an orchard, and even a working greenhouse. The property extends into Columbus with the Miller House and Garden, a premier example of mid-century modernist architecture.
Current Galleries and Exhibitions
The Indianapolis Museum of Art has works by all the greats, including van Gogh, O’Keefe, Rembrandt, Turner, Cezanne, Picasso, and many others. However, it also keeps up with modern, thought-provoking works that push art boundaries in circulating galleries and exhibitions. These exhibitions change regularly, so there’s always something exciting to look forward to on repeat visits.
Journey into Light
JMW Turner is one of the pre-eminent English Romantic painters whose work illustrated many historical travel books of his time. His watercolors of famous destinations capture their essence, and the exhibit includes both the originals and the prints created from them.
Whether you’re an armchair traveler or love the romance of Turner’s watercolors, this exhibit has something for everyone.
Vibrant Line
Vibrant Line is an exhibit that explores three Japanese artists and their wildly different approaches to art. All three use ink and paper, and their styles range from photo-realistic etchings to abstract-influenced calligraphy. It’s an exciting exhibit that showcases a given medium’s versatility and is worth a look, even if you’re not a fan of modern art.
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival
Newfields campus is home to the annual LGBT Film Festival, which has run for 20 years. It features a host of feature-length films, shorts, and documentaries focusing on LGBT issues and runs from November 13 – 23.
After looking at the amazing art, another attraction is Holliday Park, six miles north of downtown Indianapolis with everything you need to relax and recuperate. Fun for the whole family.