Curator's Choice 2026

Art Tours

1. Impressionism Across Generations: The Pissarro Family Legacy led by Sadie Arft, Curatorial Assistant
This exhibition brings together seven paintings from the Pissarro family drawn from the IMA's permanent collection, presented together for the first time. Featuring paintings by Camille Pissarro and his sons Lucien and Georges, this exhibition reveals how one family’s experimentation with brushwork and color interacted with the course of modern art.

2. On the Monet: The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (1908) led by Kenneth Brummel, Curator of European Art
Newfields' The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice by Claude Monet recently took center stage in a major exhibition devoted to the artist at the Brooklyn Museum and the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Join Kenneth Brummel, Curator of European Art, to discover what makes this luminous masterpiece one of Monet's most celebrated works and why it became the highlight of the exhibition.

3. New Encounters with Old Prints led by Anna Stein, Associate Curator of Works on Paper
There’s always something new to discover in Newfields’ print storage boxes.. Our team spent the past year exploring the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Dutch, Flemish, and German Early Modern prints and drawings alongside our expert volunteer, Rembrandt specialist, Dr. Stephanie Dickey. In this tour, Anna will bring out a selection of these hidden gems and share the stories, surprises, and insights she encountered along the way.

4. Reshaping Fashion: BODY / BEYOND led by Michael Vetter, PhD, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art
Discover highlights from the Museum’s collection of global fashion design in this exhibition exploring extraordinary and unconventional silhouettes. This tour will feature three recent fashion acquisitions on view at the Museum for the very first time and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how a fashion exhibition comes to life—from preparing and dressing mannequins, to selecting props that bring each design to life.

Nature Tours

5. Hard Hat Not Required led by Jonathan Wright, Ruth Lilly Director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park
Get an exclusive look at the largest investment in The Garden in more than a century. The reimagined Flower & Vegetable Garden will breathe new life into the former parking lot that surrounded the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse for nearly 50 years, transforming it into a vibrant new destination. Hear firsthand how this ambitious project will restore original design features and introduce new elements to inspire and delight generations of future visitors.

6. Big Tree Tour led by Chad Franer, The Tom and Nora Hiatt Director of Horticulture
Enjoy a tour of the heirloom trees that anchor Newfields' Living Collection. Representing diverse lineages from Europe, Asia, and North America, these remarkable specimens are among the most charismatic and defining features of The Garden. Along the way, you'll learn how we care for these towering giants, discover the stories they have to tell, and explore the vital role they play in supporting the wildlife that calls The Garden home.

7. Where Did These Come From?! The Secrets Behind Plant Purchasing led by Jaime Frye, Associate Curator of Living Collections
Take a stroll and uncover the secrets behind Newfields' plant purchasing process. When there are 200,000 plants to source, acquire, organize, and install each year, the luxury of wandering the aisles of a local garden center and following your heart isn't practical. Discover what it takes to outsmart hungry herbivores, navigate the inevitable disappointments that come with horticulture, and see how the team creates a truly magical experience in The Garden.

8. Hidden Gems of the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse led by Ian Wilhite, Senior Greenhouse Horticulturist and Orchid Specialist
Step inside the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse, a historic space where horticulture, history, and botanical beauty come together. Discover a diverse collection of plants while learning about the Greenhouse's role within the Oldfields estate and its continued importance to Newfields today. Along the way, explore the work that goes into caring for a living collection and experience a behind-the-scenes look at one of Newfields' most vibrant spaces.

9. Bridge Over Conserved Waters: A Fairbanks Park Water Tour led by Lisa Milton, Director of Natural Resources
Discover how you can help Newfields be a good steward of its three unique waterways aboard the electric tram, The Late Miss Kate. Along the way, explore hydrology and discover how land management practices shape the health of the lake, the Central Canal, and the White River. You'll learn how history, geology, and hydrology are deeply interconnected, and how native plants and healthy soils play a vital role in protecting water quality.

10. Summer in Paradise: A Look at Tropicals and Annuals in The Garden led by Irvin Etienne, Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Seasonal Garden Design
Summertime, and the living is easy—for tropical plants! For horticulturists, not so much. Join us for a stroll through The Garden to discover the tropicals and annuals selected by the Horticulture Team for Summer 2026. Along the way, you'll learn what makes these plants thrive and how you can use tropicals and annuals to bring a touch of the islands or the jungle to your own Midwest garden.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

11. And They Lived Happily Ever After led by Allie Steel, Events Manager
Discover what it takes to create unforgettable celebrations. Learn about the couples who choose to celebrate with us, how we seamlessly balance private events alongside the Museum's daily operations, and the collaborative workflows that make each wedding feel both effortless and deeply personal. You'll also explore how our team tracks evolving wedding trends and adapts to keep Newfields a premier event destination.

12. Managing Masterpieces through COVID-19 Pandemic led by Jennifer Rigsby, Registrar for Permanent Collection; Sherry Peglow, Director of Registration; Christa Barleben, Registrar for Exhibitions; Marla Roddy, Assistant Registrar for Exhibitions; and Linda Speight, Registration Coordinator
For the first time in its history, the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields loaned 64 of its finest European paintings for a traveling exhibition at Guangdong Museum while several of its European galleries underwent renovation. The exhibition opened on January 10, 2020—and just 14 days later, it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about the unprecedented challenges of caring for an international exhibition during a historic moment.

13. Fashion Books and Looks led by Anastasia Karel, Interim Director of Library and Archives, and Marina Ito, Librarian
Join the Library & Archives staff in the Stout Reference Library for a rare opportunity to explore a selection of extraordinary fashion books from the collection. You'll also meet Newfields’ Stephen Sprouse Archives Fellow and learn about the exciting research and archival work they are undertaking.

14. From Petal to Plate, Garden to Glass led by Patrick Russ, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Arts and Lindsay Jo Whirley, Associate Director of Culinary Arts
Join Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Arts Patrick Russ and Associate Director LJ Whirley for a conversation about the creative partnership between Newfields' Culinary and Horticulture teams. Discover how fresh produce grown on campus inspires seasonal menus, hear about exciting plans for the future, and enjoy a thoughtfully curated beverage and bite prepared by the duo.

15. Let There Be Light… And Not Fading! Led by Greg Smith, Otto N. Frenzel III Senior Conservation Scientist
Exhibitions strike a careful balance between sharing Newfields' extraordinary collections and preserving them for future generations. Every photon of light has the potential to cause change, so protecting works of art requires both science and strategy. Join our Conservation Science team for a hands-on demonstration exploring how chemistry helps us safeguard these treasures while keeping them accessible for all to enjoy.

16. Back in the Cradle: The Comprehensive Conservation of a 16th Century Book of Hours led by Doug Sanders, Conservator of Works on Paper
Go behind the scenes to explore the meticulous work of stabilizing a 500-year-old illuminated manuscript for exhibition. Discover the specialized techniques, careful decision-making, and conservation expertise required to preserve this extraordinary treasure for future generations.

17. Inspiration, Imaging, and Install: 10 Years of Winterlights Magic led by Erin O’Rourke, Festival Project Director and Erin Kilhefner, Manager of Festivals
Celebrate a decade of holiday magic and discover the creative vision that has brought Winterlights to life. The team will revisit memorable moments, share inspiration gathered from research and travel, and show a preview of this year's 10th anniversary décor inside Lilly House. You'll also create a personalized gift tag that will become part of this year's Winterlights installation, leaving your own mark on this milestone celebration.

18. All Rights Reserved led by Anne Young, Director of Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property, and Emma Carter, Rights and Reproduction Specialist
Have you ever wondered how Newfields’ art and living collections and historic properties are featured in books, magazines, and national television? Learn about the licensing process. Explore recent collaborations with the Robert Indiana Legacy Initiative LLC, TNT, Antiques Roadshow, and more. Then, discover how image reproduction and commercial photography requests are evaluated, how rights are managed both legally and ethically, and how licensing helps bring Newfields’ collections to audiences locally, nationally, and around the world.