Throughout the year, Newfields is constantly evolving—from vibrant events in The Garden to new displays in the IMA Galleries. Your support ensures these unique experiences remain accessible to all. In 2025 alone, this allowed us to share the gifts of art and nature with our community. Let’s look back at an incredible year as we celebrate the giving season.

January

In January we invited, for one night, your furry friends to join us at Winterlights presented by Bank of America. Don’t miss this paws-itively magical evening…Dog Night returns on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at Winterlights.

February

Visions of Resilience and Solidarity opened and featured German artist Käthe Kollwitz’s work focused on her advocacy for social change through her striking images of grief, poverty, uprising, and the effects of war. Kollwitz was a leading twentieth century printmaker whose monochrome works are drawn from her life spanning both world wars.

Installation view of Käthe Kollwitz: Visions of Solidarity and Resilience in the Susan and Charles Golden Gallery, February 21–August 3, 2025.

March

We celebrated the coming of spring with Art in Bloom and Fête of Florals, the first soirée of its kind at this beloved annual event. We had 55 arrangements this year, the most in the history of Art in Bloom.

Floral design by Vision in Bloom.

April

Together with The Indianapolis Public Library we opened a new Story Walk in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. Head towards the Ruth Lilly Visitors Pavilion in the park to enjoy a seasonal children’s book along the way.

May

Artist Ambassador Konstantina (Kate Constantine) joined us at Newfields to celebrate the opening of THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection: Land, Water, Sky—Art & Music from Indigenous Australians. A Gadigal artist, she uses a modern style of traditional dot painting to share the First Nations story, as she serves as a cultural advisor to Newfields. Don’t miss your chance to catch Connection before it closes in 2026.

Konstantina (Kate Constantine) colors her illustration for THE LUME activity space in The Beer Garden.

June

Newfields joined the Indy Pride Parade. For the first time, Newfields showcased an elaborate float adorned with hundreds of florals and Indy’s premier drag queen, Blair St. Clair. The float was inspired by the newly opened exhibition, Resplendent Dreams: Reawakening the Rococo (open through March 29, 2026). Parade goers were offered a fresh cut flower or fan with highlighting exhibition information.

July

We unveiled Black Dandelion by Kori Newkirk on the ceiling of the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion. This new sculpture belongs to everyone who passes under its reach. You can read more about it in our Newsroom interview with Newkirk.

Kori Newkirk: Black Dandelion in the Efroymson Family Entrance Pavilion, June 27, 2025–May 10, 2026. Artwork © Kori Newkirk.

August

In August, we hosted Sunset and Stargazing with Butler University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy to celebrate the works of the late American artist Alma Thomas. Thomas was known for her dazzling abstract paintings inspired by her love of nature, music, and the cosmos. Many enjoyed her vibrant show this summer, Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. And you can still enjoy the corresponding curated playlist and The Indianapolis Public Library booklist now.

Sunset watercolor painting surrounding the Richard A. and Helen J. Dickinson Four Seasons Garden all aglow. Guests were inspired by Alma Thomas' love for space.

September

We debuted Red & Black by Sam Gilliam in The Message is the Medium: Contemporary Art. Preparing Red & Black for viewing was nothing short of a meticulous and transformative art conservation process lead by our Conservation Intern Paige Strobel and Clowes Conservator of Paintings Roxy Sperber. You can read more about the extensive conservation in this Newsroom article.

Sam Gilliam (American, 1933–2022), Red & Black, 1981, acrylic on canvas with collage, various dimensions. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Gift of Aaron and Barbara Levine, 2008.48A-J. © Sam Gilliam.

October

2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Robert Indiana’s statue, LOVE. So, in October, along with the Mayor of Indianapolis, we declared October 22nd as Indiana’s Day of LOVE.

Installation view of LOVE at 50: A Celebration of Art and Legacy in the Pulliam Family Great Hall, September 19, 2025–June 30, 2026. Artworks © their respective creators.

November

We opened Bold: New Voices in Contemporary Art featuring groundbreaking works by African, African American, and Latino artists as well as others from around the globe. You can view powerful new acquisitions for the first time, including works by 13 recently collected contemporary artists rarely represented in American museums. Book your tickets to see Bold now through June 2026.

Khalif Tahir Thompson (American, b. 1995), Garden Room, 2024, oil, pastel, acrylic, papyrus, fabric, handmade paper (abaca, cotton), pleather on canvas, 94-1/2 × 66-7/8 in. Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Frank Curtis Springer & Irving Moxley Springer Purchase Fund, 2024.18 © Khalif Tahir Thompson.

December

We hosted the final First Thursday of the year on December 4. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time Member, First Thursdays are the perfect opportunity to discover something new and have an exceptional experience with art and nature. On this day, the schedule is packed with activities for all, and general admission is flexible—you choose how much (or how little) to pay.

Installation view of Work in Progress: Conversations about American Art in the Indianapolis Museum of Art Galleries, opened May 27, 2023. Artworks © their respective creators.

An investment in Newfields is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Donations support programs like First Thursday, mentioned above, the care of our art collection and garden, as well as education programs, community engagement initiatives, and so much more. Thank you for being part of this year at Newfields.