by Sebastián Encina
Building upon Minnetrista's history of vibrant exhibitions, we are excited to announce our 2026 exhibition calendar. The year promises to be another splendid one for the Minnetrista community, giving you ample opportunities to enjoy the best of Muncie and East Central Indiana. Lovers of art will have plenty to appreciate.
The Annual Minnetrista Juried Art Show (February 28–May 3) returns for its 36th year in this wonderful display of highly talented regional artists. Judged by Purdue University Gallery Director and Head Curator Erika Kvam, the exhibition promises to delight visitors. And in 2026, Minnetrista is again partnering with Red-tail Land Conservancy to present Open Space: Art About the Land (November 7–January 3, 2027), a juried art exhibition that supports the protection and restoration of habitats in East Central Indiana.
We are also excited to work more closely with our community partners. Local artist groups, such as Muncie Camera Club, Muncie Artists Guild, and the Indiana Wildlife Artists, have been invited to display their best in the Indiana Room. Look for these talented artists throughout the year! No exhibition calendar at Minnetrista would be complete without our annual Bob Ross homage. Next October, we will dive into Bob’s paintings in the new exhibition Waves of Wonder, a look at the water scenes he painted over the years. These works of art will make you feel as though you are sitting by the lake shore or floating on a lazy river. In summer 2026 (May 16–September 20), Minnetrista will offer Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking!, a STEM-based exhibition that invites families to immerse themselves in the world of the iconic duo. Visitors will be able to play with various gadgets and encounter hands-on learning in both English and Spanish.
For young artists, Minnetrista is partnering once more with the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass at Ball State University to bring to life the imaginative worlds of children. Glick students and faculty will choose creative designs submitted by children ages
4-18 and transform them into glass art for Imagine in Glass (November 21–February 28, 2027). These will adorn our gallery, and at the conclusion of the exhibition, the original artists will take their glass art home with them.
2026 marks a momentous point in the history of the United States, as this nation turns 250 years old. In 1776, the country declared independence and began the great experiment, forming a government never seen before. Minnetrista will celebrate this occasion through two original exhibitions. The first, America at 250: Reflections on Community (April 4–October 25), is intended to be a reflective space where audiences can contemplate the topics of citizenship and belonging and what it means to be an American. The second is America at 250: Celebrating Hoosier Spirit (June 6–January 31, 2027), where we will give local perspectives on national events. Much has happened over the course of 250 years, and Indiana has played a role through all of it. Come learn the history of this region from 1776 through the present day.
Minnetrista will also debut our new orientation space where the Heritage Collection Gallery currently is. Visitors will learn or re-learn the history of the Ball jar and Ball Corporation. The orientation space then recounts the story of the Ball family moving to Muncie and choosing this property as their home. The exhibition will include a history of the museum and gardens, highlighting key moments in our past and what visitors can expect to find on our campus.
With so much planned for 2026, there certainly will be something for everyone to enjoy! We look forward to sharing all of this with you!
History will be front and center in 2026 through several exhibitions that look back at key moments since the founding of the United States. We begin with the exhibition Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See (January 24–April 12), a powerful exhibition that recounts the brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955. This exhibition gives us a glimpse of how grief can be turned into action, just as Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett’s mother, has done.
To preview the upcoming 2026 exhibitions click the button below.