Exhibition honors T.C. Steele’s legacy 100 years after his death

NASHVILLE, Ind. — Sept. 26, 2025 — Nearly a century after his death, the life and work of Hoosier impressionist T.C. Steele will be celebrated with a new exhibition opening Saturday at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site.

The exhibition, which runs through fall 2026, marks the 100th anniversary of Steele’s passing and features nearly 30 original artworks spanning his career, along with rarely seen condolence letters written to his family in 1926.

Highlights include the famed Selma in the Garden, as well as a newly acquired portrait of Steele’s daughter, Daisy, painted just two years after the death of his first wife. The collection also includes landscapes from Steele’s Brookville period and a newly acquired work depicting a farmer at work in his field — a rare subject for the artist better known for capturing Indiana’s natural beauty.

“Steele is still such a beloved Hoosier artist to many, many people,” said Paula Katz, senior curator of art at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. “People are an important part of the story, and with the centennial, we wanted to share some of these memories.”

Jessica Stephens, manager of the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, said Steele’s vision continues to resonate. “People feel inspired by Steele’s story because he found beauty in the Indiana landscape,” she said. “That helps give us Hoosiers a sense of pride in our state.”

Visitors can view the new installation during guided tours of the artist’s large studio and the House of the Singing Winds, the home he shared with his second wife, Selma. The site also offers self-guided tours of the outdoor studio and grounds, where the landscapes that inspired Steele’s paintings can still be seen today.

The T.C. Steele State Historic Site is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Guided building tours are included with admission, which is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $7 for youth ages 3–17. Admission is free for Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites members.

For more information, visit www.indianamuseum.org

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