A 125-year-old dairy barn converted into a contemporary art museum will open May 1 in Indianapolis's Garfield Park neighborhood. The Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi), founded by Big Car Collaborative co-founders Jim Walker and Shauta Marsh, spans 40,000 square feet and includes six exhibition spaces, 18 artist studios, five storefronts for creative businesses, a performance space, a cafe, and a culinary arts area. The museum will be free to the public, with its inaugural exhibition featuring Puerto Rican painter Ivelisse Jiménez in the Jeremy Efroymson Gallery. CAMi aims to offer a welcoming, barrier-free environment—no security guards, no stern signage—and will focus on paying artists to create work rather than acquiring a permanent collection.
This opening fills a significant gap in Indianapolis's cultural landscape, as it is the first museum dedicated to contemporary art in the city since iMOCA closed abruptly in April 2020. By prioritizing artist support, affordable studios, and community engagement—including 18 affordable homes for artists and their families—CAMi models an alternative, accessible approach to contemporary art institutions. Its recognition by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the 2026 Best Places to Visit in the U.S. signals its potential to draw national attention and revitalize the Garfield Park neighborhood.