INDIANAPOLIS, IND.- Newfields welcomes Frederick Wallace as Chief Conservator and Director of Conservation. In his new role, Mr. Wallace leads the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s award-winning conservation department comprised of specialties in paintings, textiles, paper and objects conservation.

Mr. Wallace oversees the administration of the Conservation Department and supports its staff in its mission to conserve, preserve and research the museum’s collection and establish standards within the museum that meet or exceed national and international codes of ethics and care. In his new role, Wallace will advise on all conservation projects spanning all mediums of the collection. Upon arrival he immediately proceeded with conservation work to consolidate and retouch parts of Roy Lichtenstein's iconic Five Brushstrokes sculpture on the Sutphin Mall.




“I am excited to bring Fred back to the Midwest,” said Katie Haigh, Chief Operating Officer at Newfields. “Fred and I worked together for 10 years while at the Cincinnati Art Museum. He was one of the first people I reached out to when David Miller announced his retirement. Fred brings a high level of expertise in paintings conservation as well as extensive knowledge in best practices and will be a great asset to Newfields.”

At Newfields Mr. Wallace continues his 25-year career in art conservation. Before coming to Indianapolis, Wallace held the position of Chief Conservator at both the Cincinnati Art Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio (2001-2004) and The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia (2010-2016). Most recently, in 2017, Wallace established Infinity Art Conservation Enterprises (IACE), a full-time conservation private practice based in Hampton, Virginia. As Director of IACE, he provided high caliber conservation services to various institutions, corporate entities and private individuals throughout the southeast region of the state.

“There may be no better place than Newfields at which to make my return to the museum arena, joining a conservation staff and lab of the highest quality,” said Fred Wallace, Chief Conservator. I am excited and honored to lead this superb team to achieve continued great success in the study and preservation of the museum’s encyclopedic collection.”

Wallace holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and a Master's degree from the Art Conservation Program of the State University of New York College at Buffalo.