GARRETT, INDIANA — Art lovers, families and anyone looking for something inspiring to do in Northeast Indiana are invited to experience WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026, the 4th annual exhibition celebrating the creativity, perspectives and artistic voices of women artists.
The exhibition opens Friday, August 28, 2026, from 5–8 PM at the Garrett Museum of Art, located at 100 S. Randolph Street in Garrett, Indiana. The opening reception is free and open to the public, and visitors of all ages are welcome.
The exhibition will remain on display through November 1, 2026.
A Celebration of Women, Creativity and Artistic Expression
Now in its fourth year, WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS brings together 14 artists from Northeast Indiana and across the United States. The exhibition highlights an impressive variety of artistic practices, giving visitors the opportunity to experience everything from traditional painting and photography to sculpture, glass, fiber art, jewelry, beadwork and wearable art.
Rather than focusing on a single style or medium, the exhibition celebrates the many ways artists interpret the world around them.
Visitors can expect to encounter:
- Watercolor and oil painting
- Acrylic painting on canvas
- Photography
- Nature-based sculpture
- Handmade jewelry and metalwork
- Clay sculpture
- Mixed-media sculpture
- Cartoon-inspired taxidermy animal sculptures
- Borosilicate and cast glass
- Textile and fiber collage
- Fiber vessels
- Silk and wool wearable art
- Hair sculpture
- Traditional Great Lakes-style Native beadwork
The result is an exhibition designed to encourage curiosity and invite visitors to slow down, explore and experience each artist’s unique perspective.
From Ordinary Moments to Extraordinary Art
One of the themes running throughout the exhibition is the idea of reimagining reality.
Some artists transform ordinary moments into extraordinary photographs. Others use materials gathered from nature, textiles, glass, metal or clay to create objects that challenge expectations.
The exhibition demonstrates how different artistic practices can tell stories, explore identity and transform everyday experiences into something memorable.
For visitors, that means there is no single way to experience WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026. A piece that catches your attention from across the gallery may reveal something completely different when you take the time to look closer.
Miriam McClung: 70 Years of Painting
One of the special highlights of this year’s exhibition is the work of Miriam McClung, an Alabama native and significant Southern artist.
McClung has painted every day for 70 years and continues to create art at the age of 90.
Her work explores landscapes, people and the quiet corners of the South, offering viewers an intimate look at the places and moments that have inspired her throughout her extraordinary artistic life.
Her inclusion in WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026 adds another important dimension to an exhibition already spanning generations, geographic regions and artistic disciplines.
A Return of Avant-Garde Hair Sculpture
Visitors returning to the exhibition will also recognize the work of Migena Furxhi, an award-winning avant-garde hairstylist from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Furxhi returns with another hair sculpture created especially for WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS.
Her work demonstrates just how broad the definition of contemporary art can be. By transforming hair into sculpture, she takes a familiar material and turns it into something unexpected, challenging viewers to consider materials and artistic processes in a completely different way.
Cagney King Returns
Indianapolis artist Cagney King also returns to WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS.
Known for her abstract portraiture, King’s work explores recognizable human forms through an imaginative and sometimes surreal lens.
Her pieces are both familiar and unexpected, encouraging viewers to look beyond traditional ideas of portraiture and representation.
Honoring Agnes Hamilton
Each year, WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS features a Legacy Artist, honoring the work and contributions of an artist who is no longer living.
For 2026, the Garrett Museum of Art honors Agnes Hamilton, a Fort Wayne artist, social worker and community leader.
Hamilton was the cousin of the Fort Wayne Hamilton sisters whose statues, along with Agnes Hamilton’s bronze statue, can be found on the grounds of Headwaters Park.
Beyond her work as a dedicated social worker and founder of the YWCA in Fort Wayne, Hamilton was also an accomplished painter.
She documented her travels through her artwork, creating a visual record of the places and experiences that shaped her life.
Several of Hamilton’s paintings from a private collection will be displayed as part of this year’s exhibition, providing visitors with a special opportunity to experience her artistic legacy.
Meet the 14 Artists Featured in 2026
WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026 features artists working in a wide range of mediums and coming from communities throughout Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and beyond.
The participating artists are:
Mindy Bermes — Fort Wayne, Indiana
Peggy Breidenbach — Indianapolis, Indiana
Carolyn Damstra — Haslett, Michigan
Sue Foerch — Saugatuck, Michigan
Migena Furxhi — Grand Rapids, Michigan
Amanda Gargac — Taylor, Michigan
Sharmalene Gunawardena — Fort Wayne, Indiana
Agnes Hamilton — Fort Wayne, Indiana — Legacy Artist
Angela Hudson — Fort Wayne, Indiana
Cagney King — Indianapolis, Indiana
Liza Kirk — Memphis, Tennessee
Miriam McClung — Crossville, Tennessee
Katrina Mitten — Huntington, Indiana
Michelle Pokorny — Indianapolis, Indiana
Wendy Simon — Indianapolis, Indiana
Together, these artists represent a diverse collection of contemporary artistic practices and perspectives.
A Free Art Experience in Northeast Indiana
One of the best parts of WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026 is that admission is completely free.
Whether you’re an avid art collector, a working artist, a photographer, a student, a family looking for something different to do or simply someone who appreciates creativity, the exhibition offers an opportunity to experience original artwork without an admission fee.
The exhibition is also open to all ages, making it an accessible cultural experience for visitors throughout Northeast Indiana.
Visit the Garrett Museum of Art
Located in downtown Garrett, the Garrett Museum of Art provides a space where regional and national artists can connect with the community through exhibitions and artistic expression.
WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026 runs from August 28 through November 1, 2026.
Opening Reception
Friday, August 28, 2026
5–8 PM
Garrett Museum of Art
100 S. Randolph Street
Garrett, Indiana
Admission: FREE
Regular Museum Hours
Friday: 5–8 PM
Saturday: 4–7 PM
Sunday: 1–4 PM
Visitors should check the museum’s social media channels for updates regarding holiday closures or schedule changes.
Private tours are also available Monday through Thursday by appointment. To schedule a private tour, call 260-704-5400.
Make Plans to See Women Take the Walls 2026
From paintings and photographs to glass, textiles, sculpture, jewelry, beadwork and an unforgettable avant-garde hair sculpture, WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026 offers an opportunity to experience art from a wide range of perspectives.
The exhibition’s combination of emerging and established voices, regional and national artists, contemporary work and historical legacy makes it an exciting addition to the Northeast Indiana arts calendar.
If you’re looking for things to do in Garrett, Indiana, free things to do in Northeast Indiana, or a unique art exhibition in Indiana, make plans to visit the Garrett Museum of Art before the exhibition closes on November 1, 2026.
Fourteen artists. Multiple generations. Countless perspectives. One gallery filled with creativity.
Come take a closer look at WOMEN TAKE THE WALLS 2026.
