Art and Creative Expression at The Children's Museum

Express Yourself!

Literature, painting, sculpture, fashion, cooking, pretend-play, and live theater only begin to touch on the variety of hands-on exhibits, experiences, themed days, and paid special events at The Children's Museum that provide access to art and creative expression, sparking creativity and inspiration in children and grown-ups of all ages!

Themed Days

Meet Our 2026–27 Visiting Artists

Spark your creativity and explore art in an exciting way!

Each year, the museum recruits exceptional artists with Indiana ties to publicly present and teach their work. The artists interact and inspire children and families with art exhibits, displays, and hands-on workshops.

Christina Hollering

Christina Hollering is a visual artist born in Indianapolis.. She earned her BFA and MFA from the Herron School of Art and Design, where she currently teaches. Her work explores the intersection of nature and science, focusing on environmental stewardship and interconnected ecosystems.

Through murals, cut paper collage, and installation, she highlights native flora and fauna while drawing attention to overlooked species and environmental concerns. 
Cut Paper Collage with Christina Hollering

All public Visiting Artist workshops are included with museum admission.

Maria Patterson

Maria Patterson is an Indianapolis-based woodcarving artist and instructor. Her practice, which began as a self-prescribed, therapeutic antidote for burnout in the tech industry, involves transforming wood from fallen trees into whimsical folk art narratives and mythic realism using only traditional carving knives and hand tools.

By bridging her science and technology innovation background with traditional craft practices, Maria addresses contemporary challenges of digital overwhelm, social isolation, and mental health through timeless creative engagement. Her aim is not just to create beautiful works of art but to demonstrate how the process of making can foster healing, connection, and resilience.
Carving with Maria Patterson
Visiting Artist Maria Patterson.

Paid Special Events at The Children's Museum

Enhance your experience at The Children's Museum with these paid special events. Separate registration fees apply. Visit our web calendar for a full listing of all Special Events.
Separate Registration Required

September Homeschool: Bayou Arts and Imagination

Sept. 10, 2026

Explore art, culture, and imaginative exploration rooted in the sights, sounds, and stories of the bayou.

Whether you’re a seasoned homeschool family or just dipping your toe in the water, we’ve got you covered!

See All Homeschool Programs

Daily Activities at The Children's Museum

All Daily Activities are included with museum admission. Visit our web calendar for a full listing of all Daily Activities.

Permanent Art-Related Exhibits & Displays

Memories, Wonders, and Dreams
Celebrate the past and look to the future with the first piece added to our collection in the museum's second century, created by Visiting Artist Ashley Nora. Located in the Sunburst Atrium.
American POP
Design your own fashion line, create your own superhero, examine a Norman Rockwell painting, model your own personal style.
Mini Masterpieces
Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship on display in these miniature rooms and homes, and design your own tiny world.
Fireworks of Glass
Make your own “glass” art inspired by the massive Dale Chihuly Fireworks of Glass sculpture.
Playscape
Designed exclusively for children 5 and under. Ignite creativity in the Art Studio and explore sound in the Music Studio.
Take Me There: Peru
Make a silver bracelet. Create colorful bead patterns. Try your hand at playing Peruvian music. Learn a Peruvian dance. Explore Peruvian cuisine.
Dinosphere Art Lab
Color a dinosaur and bring it to life on a giant screen. Explore composition while creating a dino eating scene. Experiment with putty to make dinosaur egg art. Create your own “A Day in the Life of a Dinosaur” comic strip.
Carousel Wishes and Dreams
Marvel at the hand-crafted Carousel animals. Ignite your imagination in the playhouses. Consider the creativity and ingenuity that goes into creating and playing video games. Examine a painting by .A. Noel.
The Power of Children
Examine a famous painting by Norman Rockwell. Marvel at 1,000 hand-made paper cranes. Discover the beauty of henna hand designs. Learn the power of words through Anne Frank's diary.
Lilly Theater
Encounter the magic of live theater in the museum's seasonal productions. See Lilly Theater page for show details and times.
Old National Bank Sports Legends Avenue of Champions
Study the movement and power captured in life-sized statues of iconic sports legends with ties to Indiana. Seasonal and weather dependent.
National Art Museum of Sport
Explore our collection of sports-themed art. Draw or sculpt your own sport art.
The Visiting Artist Program is a project of the Lechleiter Indiana Visiting Artist Fund with support provided by The White Oak Foundation, Sarah and John Lechleiter.
today at the museum
Open today 10 am–5 pm