The Clowes Pavilion Reimagined
The Indianapolis Museum of Art welcomes visitors to the Clowes Pavilion, newly reimagined after a multi-year renovation, 50 years after its inaugural opening date. The reinstalled space includes a state-of-the-art LED ceiling that evokes an outdoor space in the heart of the museum, surrounded by beloved works from the Clowes Collection. Favorites like Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait and the Raphael-designed tapestry The Miraculous Draught of Fishes are shown alongside objects from other parts of the IMA’s permanent collection, such as Duvor (Communal Cloth) by the Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui. The nearly 100 objects on view offer a fresh new perspective on significant social and art historical themes throughout the ages and are interspersed with innovative and engaging teaching elements.
Included with General Admission and free for Members
The Clowes Pavilion Reimagined Online Resources
Inside the reimagined Clowes Pavilion, which opened in spring 2022, several artworks on view there were selected for a deeper dive. Video content was created to explore a variety of topics, including interesting results gleaned from conservation analysis and explorations of the historical background of several influential women depicted in paintings. For the benefit of our online visitors, this content is shared here.
Conserving an Artwork
Go behind the scenes at De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry to see how this large-scale tapestry was conserved.
Conservation Investigates: How Artworks Change Over Time
Find out how Pere Valle’s 15th century artworks have changed over time with conservator, Roxy Sperber.
The Reign of Marie De Guise
Explore the reign of Marie De Guise, an influential ruler in sixteenth-century Scotland, with Dr. Amy Blakeway.
Conservation Investigates: Artist Materials and Techniques
Learn how analysis of pigments and paint layers teaches us about artist materials and technique with conservator, Roxy Sperber.
La Virgen de Guadalupe: A Powerful Image for Centuries
Learn how the Virgin of Guadalupe symbol has been used in many social and political causes, with Dr. Cara Kinnally.
Eleanora Di Toledo: Fashion and Power
Meet the influential sixteenth-century Florentine duchess who used fashion to convey power and influence, with Dr. Chrystine Keener.
Reinterpreting Guadalupe: Artists in Recent Times
See how Chicana feminist artists have reimagined the Virgin of Guadalupe as a radical figure, with Dr. Cara Kinnally.
Discover Music Inspired by the Clowes Pavilion
"Sharing Sacred Space" is a new composition by Indianapolis-based composer, performer, and instrument builder Rob Funkhouser. Commissioned by Classical Music Indy (CMI) and Newfields as part of the CMI City Sounds project, this work brought together the talents of local musicians in a recorded performance in the Clowes Pavilion in February of 2024. Responding to the Pavilion’s unique atmosphere, "Sharing Sacred Space" is a seventeen-minute composition divided into three movements: “The Open Door,” “Silence and Speculation,” and “Seedling.” The piece features Brenna Green on harpsichord, Gavin Waggoner on vibraphone, Maya Nojiri Sutherland on cello, and Jesse Whittman on bass.
CMI City Sounds, supported by the Indy Arts and Culture Restart & Resilience Fund through the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Lilly Endowment Inc., presents original works like this across Indianapolis. By connecting music with the city's cultural sites, the project encourages visitors to experience Indy in new and inspiring ways.
Visit classicalmusicindy.org/program/cmi-city-sounds/ to see more works from the CMI City Sounds project.
