The University Museum at ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ is delighted to return to the Artists Hand Gallery. The Museum Goes Downtown: Recent Acquisitions will be on display May 1 through May 16, 2026. This special showcase brings a curated selection of the museum’s recent acquisitions into the heart of the Indiana community, highlighting the growth and diversity of our permanent collection.
The Museum Goes Downtown invites visitors to explore the contrast and multiple expressions of art found in our latest acquisitions. Featuring a range of works from international masters to prolific local artists, the exhibit highlights the variety of styles that define our newest collection. Visitors will experience a journey through diverse artistic visions, from traditional images to imaginary worlds and timeless, symbolic places.
“Our museum collection is here to serve as a creative and cultural resource for everyone in our community,” said the University Museum leadership. “We invite everyone to see how these manifested expressions of art challenge our perceptions of ourselves and the world.”
To celebrate the exhibition’s opening, a free public reception is scheduled for Friday, May 1, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at . During the reception, Beth Wheeler, an Indiana, PA-based artist whose work was recently acquired by the University Museum, will present an artist talk. Working primarily in oils, Wheeler’s landscapes, inspired by the places she knows and loves, explore her spiritual connection to nature and the deep sense of wonder that arises in moments of solitude and contemplation. Wheeler is a graduate of ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ with an MFA in painting and also holds degrees from West Virginia University and Saint Francis University, where she studied under Chuck Olson. She is the manager of The Fox Clark Gallery in Indiana.
Admission to the opening reception and throughout the exhibition is free. hours are Monday–Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Thursday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
For more information, please email the museum at museum-info@iup.edu, call the museum at 724-357-2424, or call the Artists Hand Gallery at 724-463-8710.