Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in Indiana, USA

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is the art museum within Newfields, a 152-acre cultural campus on Michigan Road in Indianapolis. Its galleries present art from antiquity to the present, with holdings in European, American, Asian, African and other artistic traditions as well as modern and contemporary art, design, fashion, photography and works on paper.

From the Art Association of Indianapolis to the IMA

The institution traces its history to the Art Association of Indianapolis, formed in 1883. Its first organized exhibition opened on November 7 of that year at the English Hotel on Indianapolis Circle and included 453 works by 137 artists.

A major change came after the estate of Indianapolis real estate investor John Herron provided funds for a permanent gallery and school. The John Herron Art Institute subsequently developed as the association’s museum and educational center. During the following decades, gifts from Indianapolis collectors and patrons added European painting, Asian art and other areas that remain important parts of the museum’s holdings.

In 1966, Ruth Lilly and Josiah K. Lilly donated their parents’ Oldfields estate to the Art Association. The organization changed its name to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1969, and development of the museum complex on the estate continued through the 1970s. The Krannert Pavilion opened in 1970, followed by other gallery and public spaces.

The campus underwent another large expansion in the early 2000s. New facilities opened in 2005, including the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion and Wood Gallery Pavilion. In 2017, the wider campus was unified under the name Newfields. The Indianapolis Museum of Art name remains in use for the art museum and its galleries.

What the Art Collection Covers

The museum’s collection spans a long period of art history and many regions. Visitors can encounter European paintings alongside American art, works from Asia, ancient Greek material, art from Africa and the South Pacific, modern and contemporary works, and collections devoted to areas such as fashion and design.

Several major gifts shaped particular strengths. Eli Lilly acquired about 200 Chinese bronzes, ceramics, jades and paintings for the museum between 1947 and 1961. In 1979, the W. J. Holliday collection expanded the museum’s Neo-Impressionist holdings; Newfields identifies the IMA as holding the largest public collection of Neo-Impressionist paintings in the United States.

The same year, the collection assembled by Indianapolis attorney Kurt F. Pantzer brought an important group of works by J. M. W. Turner into the museum. Later additions included 101 works by Gauguin and artists associated with the School of Pont-Aven in 1997, followed by the Clowes Collection of European Old Masters. The Clowes group includes works associated with artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Cranach and Constable.

Other gallery areas extend well beyond European painting. A 1990 donation from Harrison and Mrs. Eiteljorg added more than 1,500 works of African and South Pacific art, while a 2000 acquisition brought 75 Japanese hanging scrolls and folding screens representing artists and styles of the Edo period.

Artists represented across the IMA galleries include Rembrandt, Cézanne, Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt and Cindy Sherman. The museum also holds works connected with Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, Pop Art, light and video art, and contemporary design. Objects in the permanent collection may rotate between display, conservation, research and loans, so not every work is visible during every visit.

Exhibitions on View in August 2026

Several exhibitions with confirmed 2026 dates are open at the museum and across Newfields.

• Impressionism Across Generations: The Pissarro Family Legacy, open May 22, 2026–January 10, 2027, brings together works by Camille Pissarro and his sons Lucien and Georges from the IMA collection.
• BODY / BEYOND: Fashion That Transforms, open May 8–October 18, 2026, presents 22 works from the museum’s fashion collection, including pieces by designers such as Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, Thierry Mugler, Martin Margiela, Rei Kawakubo and Issey Miyake.
• Our America: 250 Years of Independence, Innovation, and Creativity, open June 26, 2026–January 3, 2027, is a campus-wide project that includes works and installations in the IMA galleries as well as other parts of Newfields.

Special exhibition dates and gallery installations can change, so the museum’s What’s on Display page is the appropriate place to check what will be available on a particular visit.

How the Museum Fits Into Newfields

Newfields and the Indianapolis Museum of Art are related but are not interchangeable names. Newfields refers to the wider cultural campus. The Indianapolis Museum of Art refers specifically to the museum and its art galleries.

Other parts of the Indianapolis campus include The Garden, the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse, performance spaces and Lilly House. These areas make it possible to combine a gallery visit with historic architecture, landscaped grounds and outdoor art without leaving the Newfields property.

Lilly House is part of the Oldfields estate that helped establish the museum at its present location. The Landon family developed the estate beginning in 1907, and the Lilly family purchased it in 1932. The restored property was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2003. It remains a separate historic attraction within Newfields rather than part of the IMA gallery building itself.

Planning a Museum Visit

Current general admission is $23 for adults, $20 for visitors age 65 and older, and $15 for ages 6–17. Children age five and under and Newfields members receive free general admission. Newfields notes that prices can differ for certain special exhibitions and events. Current ticket information is available through the official Tickets & Pricing page.

Free accessible parking is available in the main museum parking lot and the underground garage. Museum entrances and elevators provide wheelchair access to the gallery floors. Wheelchairs and rolling walkers are also available without charge on a first-come, first-served basis through the admissions area.

Visitors carrying larger belongings should check the museum’s bag rules before arrival. Bags larger than 11 × 15 × 6 inches are discouraged, and backpacks or large bags cannot be worn on the back inside the IMA galleries. Lockers are available on Floor 1. Bottled water is permitted in the galleries, while food and other beverages should remain outside the gallery spaces.

The IMA’s online collection database can also be used before or after a visit to search individual artworks and collection records. Because objects move between galleries, conservation, research and loans, checking the Indianapolis Museum of Art Collection database can help confirm information about a particular work.