Indianapolis Museum of Art – Indianapolis, Indiana
The museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. It showcases a number of different mediums as well as providing lectures, films, exhibitions and the beautiful gardens surrounding the facility.
The Museum was originally founded in 1883 although the original museum and art school buildings were established in 1902 in the Tinker House. The museum continued to grow in both size and reputation as time went on. In 1942 it has a collection of 350 paintings by 260 different artists. This was all accomplished under the leadership of Wilber D. Peat who was the director of the museum for 36 years! Today there are over 50,000 works of art.
In 1965 the children of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly Jr. donated their parents estate, Oldfields, to the museum. Over the next three years the estate was converted into a new home for the art museum and a new exhibition building was constructed on the estate. The museum has continued to grow with the opening of the Clowes Pavilion in 1971 and the Showalter Pavilion in 1973. In 1985 another building was built with donated funds to add yet another four story pavilion. The estate consists of 26 acres on the IMA campus, north of the main Museum complex. The house is a 22 room mansion with the grounds that were designed in the 1920;s and are maintained today.
The museum has a wide variety of Chinese art in many different mediums, including prcelain, ceramics, bronze and jade. There is also an impressive selection of Edo-period Japanese paintings.
There is also a large display of African art for you to see. Enjoy the talented works of the artists in all the different styles and mediums.
Visit the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park and it’s 100 acres of woodlands, wetlands, lake and meadows located adjacent to the Museum to explore nature through walks and interactive outdoor exhibitions.
The grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art also provide the backdrop for the annual Penrod Art Fair. The Lilly House is seated on an a beautiful 26 acre estate on the grounds of the IMA, and the 22 room Lilly Mansion has undergone historic renovation to offer visitors a glimpse at life in the 1930?s period of the home. The Art and Nature Park will include meadows, wetlands, a 35 acre lake, and untamed woodlands upon its completion in 2010. The purpose of the park is to express to the public the cohesive relationship between the natural art and beauty of nature and the man-made works of inside the museum.
Wheelchair-accessible parking is located adjacent to Lilly House in the parking lot of the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse. Lilly House features an accessible entrance and an elevator that serves all floors that are open to the public. Strollers and wheelchairs are available for use in Lilly House.
Hours
Museum
Tuesday – 11am to 5 pm
Wednesday – 11 am to 5 pm
Thursday – 11 am to 9 pm
Friday – 11 am to 9 pm
Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm
Sunday – noon to 5 pm
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
Open daily from dawn to dusk
The Ruth Lilly Visitors Pavilion is open during Museum hours only.
Lilly House
Tuesday – 11am to 5pm
Wednesday – 11 am to 5 pm
Thursday – 11 am to 5 pm
Friday – 11 am to 5 pm
Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm
Sunday – noon to 5 pm
Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Gardens and Grounds
Open daily from dawn to dusk
Free General Admission
Museum and Lilly House
General admission to the Museum and Lilly House is FREE. Admission may be charged for selected exhibitions in the Allen Whitehill Clowes Special Exhibition Gallery.
FREE Wi-Fi hotspots!
Gardens and grounds
Admission to the gardens and grounds is FREE. Pets on leashes are welcome.
100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
Admission to 100 Acres is FREE. Pets on leashes are welcome
Location
The IMA is located at 4000 Michigan Road in Indianapolis. The main entrance is approximately one block north of the intersection of 38th Street and Michigan Road on the west side of the street. The main entrance is marked by a traffic light. Note that south of 38th Street, Michigan Road becomes Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
4000 Michigan Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317.923.1331
Email ima@imamuseum.org
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