Experience the perfect fusion of art and adventure. THE LUME Indianapolis is an immersive art event that you don’t want to miss featuring the projected works of Vincent Van Gogh as they become larger than life.
I’m sharing tips to help you make the most out of your experience at the exhibit.
I attended the media preview of THE LUME Indianapolis. This article contains affiliate links.
What’s THE LUME Experience Like?
The LUME Indianapolis is 30,000 square feet of immersive digital art with 360-degree views. There are 60 total minutes of digital content that will continue to loop during the experience.
The first 40 minutes of the exhibit features Van Gogh content including 30 of his paintings and 20 minutes of the exhibit contains (4) 5-minute featurettes from digital artists inspired by Van Gogh’s work.
The experience also has multi-sensory elements with choreographed music, curated food, and drink, fragrance, and retail items.
More About Grande Experiences
THE LUME experience was created and produced by Grand Experiences. They offer both traveling and permanent experiences that are licensed globally.
Their exhibitions have been on display around the world in over 150 cities, six continents, and 32 languages more than 190 times.
How Long Will THE LUME Be in Indianapolis?
THE LUME will be in Indianapolis from July 27, 2021- May 2022.
Engage With the Art
There are several interactive experiences where you can personally engage with the art. You can actually “Van Gogh” yourself into a work of art.
Step in front of one of the ring lights and take a picture. Next, you choose a filter that is one of Van Gogh’s paintings.
You can have the picture emailed to you and it will also project up on the wall for a limited time.
In the same area of the exhibit, there is another interactive display that enlarges small sections of a Van Gogh painting as it follows the movement of your hand across the art. The enlargement reveals even more detail of the paint stroke.
Of course, you’ll want to get pictures with the incredible backdrops behind you.
I would suggest wearing bright solid colors if you want to compliment the paintings in the background.
I chose royal blue because blue is my favorite color and I knew that the color would pop because the majority of Van Gogh’s paintings have blue in them. Yellow is another color that’s pretty dominant in his artwork.
There Isn’t A Time Limit at THE LUME Indianapolis
There is no time limit on how long you can stay at THE LUME. Many other exhibits across the country only allow 30 minutes.
I’d encourage you to take it all in and even go back to areas if you want a second look at any of the projected paintings.
Starry Night (1889) is one of my favorite Van Gogh paintings. It was definitely worth waiting to see the painting projected a second time on all of the screens in the rotation loop.
Your ticket includes General Admission to Newfields so come early and stay late to enjoy all Newfields has to offer.
How is This Exbihit Different From Others Around the Country?
Guests at THE LUME Indianapolis can also be treated with viewing a real painting by Vincent van Gogh in the final galley.
Landscape at Saint-Rémy (Enclosed Field with Peasant) by Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890) is part of IMA’s permanent collection.
Cafe Terrace 1888 at THE LUME
Make sure that you check out Cafe Terrace 1888 within the exhibit for drinks and Van Gogh-inspired snacks. There is also a bar if you want an adult beverage.
There are non-alcoholic drinks available too, including flavorful lemonade inside a fun cup.
You can enjoy your snacks while you are browsing around the exhibition or save them for later.
Gift Shop at THE LUME
You can stock up on Van Gogh-inspired swag to enjoy at home or as a gift afterward.
There is an assortment of Van Gogh- themed merchandise available for purchase at the gift shop as you exit the exhibit. A few examples are coloring books, umbrellas, prints of Van Gogh artwork, mugs, and even fun socks.
How Much is Admission to The Lume Indianapolis?
*General Admission tickets to Newfields do not include THE LUME exhibit.
- Member Adults: $20
- Member Youth (ages 6-17)$13
- Public Adults $25,
- Public Youth (ages 6-17): $17
- Children ages five and under are free.
Is THE LUME Family-Friendly?
Yes, children of all ages are welcome.
Would I personally want to bring small kids there?…not really.
I say this because there is a good chance that small children could want to leave before the adults do, unless they are already used to visiting museums/ art galleries.
You also want to take into account if your child can get overstimulated easily. The experience could be overwhelming… or it could be awesome. You know your child best so weigh out the pros and cons if you choose to bring them.
If I were giving advice to a friend, I would say to leave the kids at home with a sitter and enjoy a date night or evening out with friends. That is unless the child has expressed interest in attending.
You Can Purchase Tickets for THE LUME in Advance
Tickets go on sale for THE LUME one month in advance. If you have a specific date in mind, you’ll want to set a reminder on your phone a month in advance.
- August 3 – You can buy Sept. 28-Oct. 31
- September 7 – You can buy Nov. 2-Nov. 30
- October 5 – You can buy Dec. 1-Dec. 31
Allow Time to Explore the Rest of the Newfields
There is a LOT to see at Newfields combining both art and nature that appeals to guests of all ages.
The 152-acre campus includes:
- Art galleries (Newfields is home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art which is among the ten largest and oldest general art museums in the country)
- The Garden, featuring 40 acres of contemporary and historic gardens
- The Lilly House a National Historic Landmark
- Performance spaces
- Nature preserve and sculpture park
- Working greenhouse and orchard
- The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, one of the largest art and nature parks in the country.
- Off campus there is the Miller House and Garden in Columbus, Indiana
Where is Newfields located?
Newfields is located at 4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN.
Great Places to Eat in Indianapolis
While you are in the area, you might as well check out a few of these great local restaurants in Indy.
Jackamo Upper Crust Pizza
Irvington Location -5646 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN
You know it’s going to be good when you ask multiple people for local recommendations of where to eat and they all same the place.
Jackamo Pizza lived up to the recommendation! Their specialty pizzas are very creative and deliver on taste. If you are having a hard time narrowing down your choices, you can opt for half and half.
We ordered the “Buffalo” made with homemade buffalo sauce, chicken, green pepper, carrots, gorgonzola cheese, served with ranch on the side for the first half.
For the second half, we ordered the “Shipwreck” made with lump crab, shrimp, red pepper, green onion, & Old Bay seasoning. Make sure that you ask for a side of their parmesan sauce because it’s magical.
The Garage Food Hall
906 Carrollton Ave, Indianapolis, IN
This new entertainment district has you covered if you want a lot of great options for food and drink within close proximity.
Vendors at The Garage Food Hall:
- La Chinita Poblana
- J’s Lobster and Fish Market
- Lick Ice Cream
- Bluepoint Oyster House and Bar
- Poke Guru
- Azucar Morena
- The Harbour
- Hard Truth Distilling
- Clancy’s Hamburgers
- Certain Feelings Coffe Co
- Gaucho’s Fire
- Abbiocco Pizzeria
- Axle’s Garage Tap
- Herculean Meal Prep
- Chapati Beta
- Mama Fofo’s
Gallery Pastry Bar
110 S Pennsylvania St Suite B, Indianapolis, IN
You might have noticed some of the treats at the Cafe Terrace 1888 at THE LUME Indianapolis from Gallery Pastry Bar.
In addition to beautiful pastries at their restaurant, Gallery Pastry Bar has a wonderful weekday and weekend brunch.
Try to make brunch reservations ahead to ensure that you have a table at your desired time.
Compare Prices of Hotels and Vacation Rentals
Use the interactive map to compare the prices of hotels and vacation rentals around Indianapolis to safe on your stay.
A Unique Overnight in a Train Car at Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station
123 W Louisiana St, Indianapolis, IN
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station has 26 total train cars within the hotel. Thirteen of the train car rooms have double beds and 13 have king-size beds.
The trains were rolled in on the original track and the hotel was built around them. There are nods to a different era in time when train travel was more prevalent with the sculptures throughout the hotel.
If you want to continue an art adventure road trip check out the Umbrella Sky Project in Batesville for a limited time before or after your visit to Indy.
