THE LUME Indianapolis spotlights Indigenous Australian artists

THE LUME Indianapolis shares a new story beginning May 10, 2025, with Connection: Land, Water, Sky – Art & Music from Indigenous Australians. Co-created and produced by Grande Experiences and The National Museum of Australia, this transformative exhibition features over 100 contemporary artists from key artmaking regions across the continent, purposefully creating an exceptionally comprehensive representation of Indigenous Australian art and culture.

Through the interplay of art and music, Connection welcomes visitors to Country – the Indigenous Australian worldview that everything living is connected. The themes of land, water and sky take us on a journey through Australia, where over 500 paintings, stories and photographs come together to create a singular experience celebrating the oldest continuous tradition of artmaking in the world. Set to a score of Indigenous Australian music, Connection comes to life with a powerful soundtrack comprised of both legends and modern musicians.

Using 120 projectors across 30,000 square feet, guests will experience the vibrancy and intricacy of these masterpieces in vivid detail. Featuring over 100 creators, Connection brings some of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists to Indianapolis through this monumental exhibition, including Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Tommy Watson and Konstantina (Kate Constantine).

“Connection is not just an exhibition — it is an opportunity to learn from the timeless wisdom of Indigenous Australians. It serves as a profound reminder that beauty exists everywhere, waiting to be seen and understood — if only we pause to look and listen,” Belinda Tate, The Melvin and Bren Simon Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, said. “With its stunning visuals, commanding vocals and universal themes that resonate deeply, we are eager to explore the powerful wisdom of Indigenous Australians on caring for one another as fellow humans and stewarding our small, fragile planet for future generations.”

Konstantina (Kate Constantine), a featured Gadigal artist of the Eora Nation who is serving as a cultural advisor for Newfields, celebrates this multisensory experience as a meaningful way for Indigenous Australian art to be displayed.

“The technology of Connection breaks down many barriers to entry,” Constantine said. “A lot of people like Aboriginal art because it is colorful or pretty, but many people are challenged by Aboriginal art too, by not knowing or understanding how to interpret it or not feeling like they have permission to be involved. Connection is just so inclusive.”

Exhibition Extras

Café Ngura (pronounced “nu-rah”), located midway through Connection, draws inspiration from the concept of Country. The word ngura, used in many Indigenous Australian languages, translates to “country” or “home.”

Executive Chef Patrick Russ and Certified Cicerone Lindsay Jo Whirley of Newfields have curated a creative menu that celebrates Indigenous Australian ingredients. Guests can enjoy a selection of bush spice-infused teas and coffee, freshly baked pastries, light meals and specialty drinks.

In the activity space featuring illustrations by Konstantina (Kate Constantine), guests can join a collaborative art making activity. With technology designed by Newfields’ own lab, illustrations and guest contributions come alive in a large-scale digital experience. 

In the final gallery, Indigenous Australian bark paintings from the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s permanent collection will embrace themes of home and space, with curatorial aid from Dr. Henry Skerritt, Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Curator of Research at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia.

Completing the experience as always is a unique retail opportunity featuring a diverse range of artistic offerings. This year, visitors can purchase books and exclusive merchandise from renowned Indigenous Australian artists, along with vibrant prints and a selection of souvenirs.

With another iteration of THE LUME Indianapolis comes new Featurettes, the three-minute looping digital experiences that play following the main content. Launching in June 2025, Newfields will debut three brand new Featurettes created by students at the Herron School of Art + Design.

Connection was developed and supported by a curatorial advisory panel of experts and leaders in the arts, including producer, director and arts executive Rhoda Roberts AO, Indigenous photographic artist Wayne Quilliam, Aboriginal art specialist Adam Knight and National Museum lead Indigenous curator Margo Neale.

This experience honors the vital contribution that First Peoples artists make to Australia’s design, arts and cultural landscape.

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