gallery exhibitions
A rotating schedule of diverse exhibitions are featured in Minnetrista’s six gallery spaces. These exhibitions are catered to all age groups and interests, emphasizing art, history, and interactive experiences. One affordable ticket price gets you access to everything available at the time of your visit.
Oakhurst Experience
Oakhurst Home
The Oakhurst Experience tells the story of the George and Frances Ball family through the eyes of their daughter, Elisabeth, “Betty”. The home is filled with interactive exhibitions that make it an exciting place to play and to learn. The Experience explores the themes of literacy, home food preservation, nature, and time spent together—all things the Ball family was passionate about. Read a book from the shelves of the expansive library or challenge a friend to a game from the large collection of board and digital tabletop games. Visitors of all ages and interests are invited to come and get lost in a house full of history and wonder.
Bob Ross Experience
L.L. Ball Home
Bob Ross inspired generations of viewers with his soft-spoken voice and a pallet knife. Explore the life, philosophy, and art of this iconic American painter and arts educator inside the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed. Our immersive exhibition features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity all in the building where the magic happened.
Ball Stores
Center Building, Heritage Collection Gallery
Step back in time at the Ball Stores exhibition, a captivating journey through the history of this beloved shopping destination. Adorned with the iconic brown plaid, the intimate exhibition boasts a rich collection of objects and artifacts that illustrate the memories shared by those who experienced the magic of the Stores firsthand.
Presented by
In partnership with
View more about all things related to Ball Stores below!
Majestic Mountains at Bob Ross Experience
L.L. Ball Home, Upstairs Gallery
Exciting updates have come to the Art Gallery at the Bob Ross Experience! Spotlighting iconic mountain scenes from Bob’s legendary paintings, this exhibition provides more original Bob Ross paintings for you to love. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a beautifully painted gold panning plate created by Bob during his time spent in Alaska. This rare early painting predates his rise as a public television icon and is the perfect excuse to visit (or re-visit) the Bob Ross Experience.
View more about all things related to Majestic Mountains below!
Deep Roots: Exploring the Ball Family Tree
Oakhurst Galleries
Step into the captivating narrative of the Ball family and their legacy in this original exhibition exploring Muncie’s most famous family. Through family photographs, the exhibition will trace the Ball family’s path from Buffalo, New York to their remarkable impact on the East Central Indiana region that continues to this day.
Visitors can also explore their family’s history with the genealogy resources provided.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass
Center Building, Gallery 3
Breaking the boundaries of what is deemed traditional Indigenous art, Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass examines how Native artists reinterpret cultural narratives and designs. The two-pronged exhibition focuses on how Native artists have melded ancestral ways with new methods and materials, while also examining the historical narrative of how glass art came to Indian Country from a historical perspective. Visitors will be wowed by over 100 glass art objects created by contemporary Native American and Indigenous Pacific-Rim artists.
Presented by
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass was originated by The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The traveling exhibit was curated by Dr. Letitia Chambers and is toured by International Arts & Artists.
View more related events and talks below!
35th Annual Juried Art Show
Center Building, Gallery 1
Experience the vibrant tapestry of Indiana's artistic talent at Minnetrista's 35th Annual Juried Art Show. Celebrating creativity across the Hoosier state, this exhibition showcases a diverse array of artistic expressions. Juried by metal artist Patricia Nelson, professor emerita at Ball State University’s School of Art, the exhibition invites you to immerse yourself in the rich world of fine art. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and support the exceptional artists of our state.
View more about all things related to the 35th Annual Juried Art Show below!
A Community Portrait: Spring
Center Building, Gallery 2
Acclaimed portrait photographer Tom Styrkowicz has turned his lens on our community, capturing our neighbors in moments of play, connection, and introspection. This exhibition features a selection of the unique images produced through this project, arranged in mosaics that celebrate each individual while revealing deeper commonalities that help define our community. You’re sure to find someone you know!
Good Night Forest
June 7–November 2, 2025
Center Building, Gallery 1 & 2
Visitors will feel like they are stepping into a beloved children’s storybook as they encounter whimsical scenes and engaging sensory activities in this nature-inspired experience. Designed to help build confidence and cultivate scientific curiosity, children will discover and learn about animals that emerge in their neighborhoods and local forests after the sun goes down.
In collaboration with Indiana State Museum.
Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend
July 12–September 28, 2025
Center Building, Gallery 3
The narwhal, with its unique spiral tusk, has inspired legend and fascinated people across cultures for centuries. Take a deep dive into the narwhal's Arctic world to explore what makes this mysterious animal and its changing ecosystem so important. Through first-hand accounts from scientists and Inuit community members, the exhibition will reveal how traditional knowledge and experience, coupled with the latest scientific research, heighten our understanding of these fascinating animals—and our changing global climate.
Presented by:
Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Bob Ross Nestled Cabins
October 25, 2025–October 11, 2026
Bob Ross Gallery
Step into the tranquil world of Bob Ross with this unique exhibition highlighting a collection of his beloved cabin paintings. Each work on display features cozy cabins—often the only sign of humans in his work—nestled in serene landscapes. This exhibition offers a look at both the familiar and the unexpected in Ross's celebrated artistic legacy.
Open Space: Art About the Land
November 8, 2025–January 5, 2026
Center Building, Gallery 3
Since 2001, Open Space: Art About the Land has encouraged artists to derive inspiration from the land. This year's offering will be shared between two venues, with one showing at Minnetrista and a sister exhibition hosted at the Anderson Museum of Art. As always, this project supports Red-tail Land Conservancy’s mission to preserve and restore vital habitats where people and wildlife thrive in East Central Indiana.
Presented by Joan & Stefan Anderson fund
A Community Portrait: Winter
November 22, 2025–February 1, 2026
Center Building, Gallery 1
Back for the holidays with new images and stories to explore, A Community Portrait turns our neighbors into art through the beauty of portrait photography by Tom Styrkowicz. Join us for the culmination of this three-year-long project that seeks to illuminate our community through the unique individuals who call it home.
Threads of Home
December 6, 2025–March 1, 2026
Center Building, Gallery 2
Metal and glass artist Jessica Calderwood presents a stunning collection of handcrafted domes, each capturing meaningful textile patterns from diverse communities across East Central Indiana. These intricate works not only preserve the beauty of delicate textiles but also highlight their cultural significance for future generations. The exhibition is enriched with maps, photographs, and stories, offering a deeper understanding of the people and traditions behind the patterns.
