Newfields to Close Lume Digital Galleries at Indianapolis Museum of Art

The immersive digital art exhibits will be shuttered after a two-year run.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields has announced that it will be closing its Lume digital galleries, which took over the museum's fourth floor in 2021 and featured large-scale immersive digital art exhibits. The Lume galleries will cease operations in the coming months.

Why it matters

The Lume galleries represented a significant shift in programming at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, moving away from traditional contemporary art exhibits to focus on cutting-edge digital and multimedia experiences. The closure marks the end of this experiment and a potential return to the museum's previous curatorial focus.

The details

The Lume galleries were launched in 2021 as a partnership between Newfields and the Australian company Grande Experiences. The digital exhibits featured large-scale projections, interactive elements, and immersive environments showcasing the work of famous artists like Van Gogh and Monet. However, the galleries have faced some criticism from art purists who felt they prioritized spectacle over substance.

  • The Lume galleries opened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 2021.
  • The Lume galleries will be closing in the coming months of 2026.

The players

Newfields

The organization that oversees the Indianapolis Museum of Art and other cultural institutions in Indianapolis.

Grande Experiences

The Australian company that partnered with Newfields to create the Lume digital galleries at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

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What’s next

The Indianapolis Museum of Art has not announced any specific plans for the fourth-floor space that previously housed the Lume galleries.

The takeaway

The closure of the Lume digital galleries at the Indianapolis Museum of Art signals a shift back towards the museum's traditional focus on contemporary art exhibits, after an experiment with large-scale immersive digital experiences that drew both praise and criticism from art enthusiasts.