Our History

For almost a century, the Brown County Art Gallery has been the heart of Indiana art. Founded in 1926 by members of an early art colony, it has evolved to meet the times and now stands as an iconic art center with over 15,000 square feet of exhibition space, a working art studio and a Permanent Collection of historic Brown County Art. 

The early artists, who arrived starting in 1907, had been trained in the finest art schools of America and Europe. They found the natural beauty of Brown County to be the perfect painting ground and so they came and settled. The Gallery keeps their legacy alive through special exhibits and events, books, and videos and in the current artists who work and exhibit at the Gallery.

In 2015, a major expansion launched the Gallery into the national art world. The Gallery and its Permanent Collections, including the nationally recognized Gustave Baumann room, has made the Brown County Art Gallery a must-see location for all art lovers. It is also an educational center offering workshops and special exhibits for adults and children.

The Gallery buildings, grounds and permanent collections are owned by the Gallery Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit. The Foundation depends on gifts from donors to provide artists with affordable exhibit space and services. It also allows the Gallery to remain open to the public free of charge.