Featured Artists & Exhibits, 2026

This year, the museum will focus on a diverse group of artists whose work connects Indiana history to national and international artistic movements. From modern abstraction to regional landscapes and community-centered art, these exhibitions reflect the many ways artists interpret place, culture, and identity.

Welcoming Spring with Our Sister City 

April – May 2026

This exhibit offers a glimpse into Japanese culture and imagery connected to our sister city, Shizuoka, featuring a variety of objects, photographs, and items that reflect the season and everyday life. Main Hallway

Victor Higgins (1884–1949)

Opening Summer 2026

Born in Shelbyville, Indiana, Victor Higgins was a prominent American painter best known for his colorful landscapes and portraits of the American Southwest. As a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists, Higgins helped establish Taos, New Mexico, as a major American art colony. Train Room

In early summer, the Blue Ridge Community Foundation and the Museum will unveil the Japanese Alley Project, an immersive installation inspired by traditional Japanese culture including art, festivals, agriculture and economics. It will be in . This project transforms an alley space into an environment, encouraging visitors to explore design, culture, and atmosphere through architecture, detail, and movement. Michael Runge (Art/Architecture) and Ignition Arts, LLC (Fabrication / Engineering) were hired to develop the space. Mt. Fuji, a World Cultural Site, is an important backdrop to the Shizuoka landscape and was ultimately selected as inspiration for the installation.The Rotary Club of Shelbyville also have donated $20,000 to this project.  To Learn more or donate visit: https://www.blueriverfoundation.com/arts-culture Outside Alley

Jeffrey Becom (b. 1953)

Opening September 2026

A Shelbyville native, Jeffrey Becom is an artist and architect whose work documents vernacular architecture and cultural landscapes around the world through painting and photography. The museum has received four paintings and one photograph by Becom as donations. He will also present a public talk at the museum later this year. Main Hall

Roland Hobart (1940–2020)

All year

An Austrian-born artist and printmaker, Roland Hobart left a lasting mark on Indiana’s art community through murals, screen prints, and public art. He was also a dedicated mentor, influencing generations of young artists.
Meeting Room & Jones Gallery

Children & Community Exhibits

• Scuffy Children’s Art Exhibit – April–May (Streets)
• Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office Children’s Art Exhibit – November–December (Meeting Room)

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