Indiana boasts a number of impressive and interesting museums and galleries dedicated to art preservation and display. While some are situated in the capital city of Indianapolis, there are many others from which to choose scattered throughout the state. It's simply a matter of picking where you'd like to go.
Museums
Indianapolis
The Indianapolis Museum of Art has a collection of over 50,000 works of art. Located on Michigan Road, its permanent galleries include displays on African, Asian, and American art, as well as contemporary, European, South Pacific, and native art of the Americas. As well, the IMA has also featured a variety of exhibits detailing a wealth of art and artifacts. Some exhibits have included: Roman Art from Louvre, Hats of Africa, and an exhibition of works by Adrian Schiess.
Make sure to take the time to check out the Herron Gallery, part of the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. The gallery was founded in 1979, and since that time has established a reputation for distinction in contemporary art in Indianapolis. It encourages experimental and non-mainstream arts. The gallery is free and open to the public, and displays a wealth of art from local, national, and international artists.
For something different, check out the Indianapolis Art Center, located on East 67th Street. A non-profit community arts center (one of the premier in the Midwest), the center's goal is to make arts accessible for people of all ages and experiences. All art housed on the grounds is free to view. The IAC also conducts classes for individuals of all ability levels.
Other
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is the premier art museum in Northeast Indiana. Its American Art Initiative strives to increase the basic knowledge of American Art, in terms of both appreciating and collecting art. Past exhibits have included a photo retrospective on Vietnam and an exhibit entitled The Fort Wayne Six, focused on six Fort Wayne artists/teachers who've represented the community over the last five decades. Their permanent collection focuses on primarily American art, much of which was created after 1850. As well, the museum has a collection of over 56 Amish quilts.
Galleries
Many of Indiana's art galleries are located in Indianapolis, but there are a number of other galleries located in the city of Nashville, as well as other locations throughout the state.
Indianapolis
Located on River Crossing Boulevard, the Bear Creek Gallery is a Native-American owned and operated gallery dedicated to designs of the American Southwest. It features pottery, sculptures, and carvings, as well as silver and turquoise jewelry.
The Domont Studio Gallery, located on South East Street, is dedicated to the work of Indiana artist John J. Domont. His paintings specialize in Indiana landscape scenes, with an emphasis on serenity and peace. The gallery also displays his contemporary photography.
Of especial interest is the Hoosier Salon, a nonprofit arts association dedicated to promoting the work of Hoosier artists through galleries and exhibits. The Hoosier Salon has two permanent galleries, one in the Broad Ripple district and in the town of New Harmony, as well as an annual exhibition at the Indiana State Fair.
Check out the Ironeyes Gallery in Windfall (with a smaller work in Indianapolis), which specializes in Iron Sculpture Art ranging from benches and gazebos to animal sculptures and Art Nouveau pieces.
The Kuaba Gallery was formed to display and promote contemporary African art. Located on Massachusetts Avenue, the gallery displays works by a number of modern African artists, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and accents.
Nashville
The Davis Fine Art Gallery focuses on Indiana and Brown County art. Proprietors Gerard and Debbie Davis believe in educating and representing to the public at large about the works of artists from the Hoosier Group, Brown County Art Colony, and the Richmond Group, as well as other Indiana artists.
The Spears Gallery specializes in handmade pottery, and has displays in fine art and photography as well. Located just off IN-135 South, the Spears Gallery has been displaying handmade wares for approximately 20 years, and has had work displayed at various exhibits around the country.
Elsewhere
Artlink is a contemporary art gallery in Fort Wayne. A non-profit organization dedicated to displaying the work of new and emerging regional artists and sculptors, Artlink is a funded member of Arts United and features 16 original exhibitions.
Famous Visual Artists
Bruce Nauman was born in 1941 in Fort Wayne. An artist interested in the effect of visual language, Nauman has won critical acclaim and awards world-wide. He has received the Wolf Prize in Arts and the Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale, and in 2006, Artfacts.net ranked him the number one living artist.
Also from Fort Wayne was renowned sculptor Frederick William Sievers. In 1910, he created the Virginia Monument at Gettysburg. As well, the Virginia Capitol building houses four portrait statues by Sievers of James Madison, Zachary Taylor, Patrick Henry, and Sam Houston. His sculptures gained a reputation for having a Civil War-based theme. Some include monuments located in Elmira, New York, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and one to Stonewall Jackson, on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia.
There are a number of different and unique museums and galleries to see in Indiana. All have something different to display, yet many of them bear one common similarity: to display the richness of Indiana art.
