During a weekend globally famous for speed, noise, and spectacle, Bruce and I did something entirely unexpected.
We bypassed Carb Day on Friday. And, we skipped the Indy 500 parade on Saturday.
Instead, we spent two afternoons wrapped in the quiet, immersive world of Newfields, home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the historic Old Fields estate. We didn’t plan on going twice, but some places possess a magnetic pull that demands a second look.
As a keynote speaker, Fractional CMO, and photographer, I am always analyzing how brands, leaders, and creators tell their stories. What I found in Indianapolis wasn’t just a collection of beautiful galleries; it was a masterclass in human connection, legacy, and pattern recognition.
Whether you are an executive charting a corporate vision, an association leader designing an event experience, or an entrepreneur building a personal brand, art has a funny way of acting as a mirror for our business and our lives.
1. The Racing Family: Connection Knows No Track
The storytelling began the moment we checked in. When the museum staff realized we were visiting from Charlotte, North Carolina, the conversation instantly shifted to racing. They offered their condolences on the recent, sudden passing of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch at age 41.
Standing there, 600 miles from home on the biggest open-wheel racing weekend of the year, it struck me: family is family, no matter what track you run or what cars you drive.
In business, we often build walls between industries, niches, or generations. But true community is built on shared passion. The people at Newfields were incredibly sweet, reminding me that the best customer and audience experiences always begin with a simple, human connection.
2. The Pissarro Family: What Kind of Talent Are You Passing Down?
One of the highlights of our visit was the intimate exhibit, Impressionism Across Generations: The Pissarro Family Legacy. It chronicles Camille Pissarro and his children—he had six kids who became painters. Looking at the family portraits, I found myself thinking deeply about legacy.
What types of talent, values, and mindsets are we passing down to our children, our relatives, or the teams we lead?
[ The Entrepreneurial Legacy Loop ]
Your Vision ───> Next Generation Observes
▲ │
│ ▼
Fresh Insights <─── Younger Perspectives
When I started my company, I had just one child; today, I have three. My kids grew up watching a mother navigate the evolution of modern communication as an entrepreneur—from launching a Social Media Club chapter to producing podcasts and client events. They didn’t just hear about business; they lived it.
Seeing the Pissarros reminded me that legacy is a two-way street. Watching me made my children more creative, but staying in touch with their younger generation keeps me agile, innovative, and sharp. We are all learning from each other.
3. Connecting the Historical Dots: From Turner to Mary Queen of Scots
In March, Bruce and I were in Greenwich, England, marveling at J.M.W. Turner’s massive, dramatic maritime paintings. So, when we walked into Newfields’ Turner collection, the thrill of recognition was instant.
But the real surprise? The exhibit featured Turner’s delicate sketches of the home of Mary Queen of Scots.
As a direct descendant of Mary Queen of Scots, standing in an Indiana museum looking at sketches of my ancestral history drawn by a British master felt surreal. That is the magic of travel and art—it triggers profound pattern recognition. It teaches us to connect dots across centuries and continents, a skill that is just as vital for market leaders as it is for historians.
4. Conversations with Docents: The Secret Stories Behind the Canvas
I love wandering through art museums and imagining the hidden narratives. Who is the person in the portrait? What was the artist thinking? How did this medium come to be?
We were fortunate to meet a wonderful docent named Willie, who walked us over to a Claude Monet painting. He shared the incredible journey of the canvas: Monet had painted it directly from a hotel window, and years later, that very painting wound up hanging in the home of Winston Churchill.
[Monet's Hotel Window] ───> [Winston Churchill's Home] ───> [Newfields Gallery]
Without Willie, it was just beautiful brushwork. With him, it became an unforgettable epic. This is a vital lesson for marketers and entrepreneurs: Your product or service is only half the equation. The story behind how it came to be is what creates value, emotional buy-in, and trust.
5. From the 1929 Garage to a Digital Cathedral
Newfields seamlessly blends the historic with the cutting edge, offering inspiration for every type of creative mind:
The Lilly House (Old Fields): Originally built by the Landon family and later occupied by Eli Lilly, this estate lets you wander through the historic first floor and head down to the lower-level garage to see a pristine 1929 automobile. It’s a beautiful look at industrial design and heritage.
The Clowes Collection & The Digital Cathedral: The Clowes collection is magnificent, featuring towering, centuries-old textiles that instantly transported me back to European cathedrals. But the museum transformed this classic space by installing a digital show on the ceiling. You can sink into comfortable chairs, look up, and watch a vibrant digital display shift across the architecture to a beautiful musical score. It is an incredible example of how traditional spaces can utilize modern innovation to capture a completely new audience.
Fashion as Identity: A brilliant fashion exhibit—partially curated by a talented design team member who actually un-retired just to help bring it to life—reminded me how deeply our visual choices tie to our personal branding. (More to come on this in a future post!)
The Strategic Takeaway: What’s in It for You?
If you are trying to figure out how to stand out in a crowded market, command a stage, or inspire a team, Newfields offers an answer that goes against everything our fast-paced world tells us:
Stop chasing the noise. Change your vantage point.
When we step away from the daily race, widen our aperture, and immerse ourselves in different mediums, colors, and stories, we give our brains permission to build new neural pathways. The best strategic solutions rarely arrive when we are forcing them; they show up when we give ourselves the space to look longer, notice more, and listen to the storytellers around us.
Newfields Travel FAQ: Plan Your Visit
What is Newfields?
Newfields is a magnificent 152-acre cultural campus located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It features the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the historic Lilly House and Gardens, beautiful outdoor art landscapes, a beer garden, and rotating world-class exhibitions.
Is Newfields worth visiting?
Absolutely. It is one of the premier cultural tourism destinations in the Midwest. Whether you are a corporate leader looking for creative restoration, a photographer capturing light, or a family exploring history, it offers something for everyone.
How much time should you reserve?
Give it at least half a day. We went twice over the weekend and still felt like we were just scratching the surface of the galleries and grounds.
About Barbara Rozgonyi
Barbara Rozgonyi is a sought-after keynote speaker, Fractional CMO, photographer, and creator of the AURAS Framework and Brighter Presence™. Known as The Visibility Architect™, she consults with executives, association leaders, and creative entrepreneurs to design authentic, high-impact visibility strategies that turn expertise into lasting legacy. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina with deep Chicago roots, Barbara shares strategic insights from the road every Tuesday at BarbaraRozgonyi.com.
Ready to elevate your organization’s visibility and storytelling? Click here to book Barbara for your next keynote or corporate workshop.
Where have you traveled that completely shifted your perspective? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!
