Indianapolis Museum Unveils New Contemporary Design Galleries

Fans of contemporary design in the Midwest—as well as those planning a visit, or merely passing through—have much to celebrate with the opening in late November of the refurbished and expanded contemporary design galleries at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
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The 10,000-square-foot exhibition space opened on November 21 after a three-year, multi-phase renovation effort. It serves as a showcase for one of the largest displays of its kind in any art museum in North America—one that includes more than 400 objects, weighted in favor of those produced since 1980.

The 9,000-square-foot main gallery showcases contemporary design objects since 1980. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

The 9,000-square-foot main gallery showcases contemporary design objects since 1980. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

An entrance gallery orients visitors and showcases recent acquisitions or special exhibitions. The second gallery tells the story of modern design from the post-war period to 1980 through a range of objects, including chairs designed by Hans J. Wenger and Charles and Ray Eames.

With more than 400 objects, the Indianapolis Museum of Art's contemporary design collection is among the largest of its kind in North America. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

With more than 400 objects, the Indianapolis Museum of Art's contemporary design collection is among the largest of its kind in North America. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

But it’s the 9,000-square-foot main gallery that is most likely to wow visitors. The museum’s collection of design objects produced since 1980 is laid out in a manner that lets visitors trace the evolution of contemporary design chronologically or stylistically, depending on how they choose to navigate the space. It includes objects by well-known artists, including Ettore Sottass, Frank Gehry, and Achille Castiglioni, alongside works by up-and-coming designers like Tord Boontje and Konstantin Grcic.

Chair One by Konstantin Grcic. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

Chair One by Konstantin Grcic. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

The new galleries were designed by Phil Lynam and Lara Hutcheman of the museum’s Design Studio, in association with Jeff Daly, a former senior design advisor to the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The gallery focuses on post-1980 design, a period of growth and creativity. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

The gallery focuses on post-1980 design, a period of growth and creativity. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

Photo by Eric Lubrick.

Photo by Eric Lubrick.

Extra Big Shadow lamp by Marcel Wanders. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

Extra Big Shadow lamp by Marcel Wanders. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

The museum's Department of Design Arts was founded in 2007 and focuses on representing a wide range of media, including furniture, glass, ceramics, metal work and product design from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

The museum's Department of Design Arts was founded in 2007 and focuses on representing a wide range of media, including furniture, glass, ceramics, metal work and product design from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Photo by Eric Lubrick.

William Lamb
Will Lamb is a writer and editor based in Jersey City, New Jersey. He served as a senior editor at Dwell from 2013 to 2015.

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