10 art exhibits to catch this month

Whether you prefer ancient art, contemporary conversations, or exploring legacies there’s plenty to take in this month at the city’s many museums and galleries. Here are a few must-see shows to catch this month.

Jacob Blickenstaff: Show of Hands – March 6 through April 11

New York-based photographer/musician and St. Louis native Jacob Blickenstaff is headed home to share a poignant collection of images at Bruno David Gallery. Show of Hands captures the hands of musicians across genres and generations, offering intimate portraits that go beyond famous faces.

READ MORE: Jacob Blickenstaff’s new exhibition shows the work of a hands-on photographer

Liminal – March 6 through May 31

The Museum of Contemporary Religious Art at Saint Louis University was the first museum dedicated to the exploration of spiritual and religious dimensions in contemporary art. While its time is coming to an end, MOCRA has one last show to share before it goes. Liminal explores MOCRA’s more than three decades of exhibitions by placing artists who have previously exhibited at the museum in conversation with the permanent collection.

Courtesy of Janie Stamm

Courtesy of Janie Stamm

CAM Spring/Summer Exhibitions – March 6 through August 9

The Contemporary Art Museum’s biannual refresh brings together the work of Andrea Carlson, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, Ayana Evans, Janie Stamm, and the students of CAM’s Teen Studio Art Program. Stop by the museum on March 6 for an opening reception and First Friday festivities.

READ MORE: The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ Teen Museum Studies program turns students into curators

Dialogues & Conversations – March 6 through August 9

This new exhibition at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the space by returning to the curatorial roots of its founder, Emily Rauh Pulitzer. Featuring work by more than 35 artists, including Edgar Degas, Jasper Johns, Alberto Giacometti, and more, Dialogues & Conversations is a far-reaching exhibition and fitting celebration of this major anniversary.

Alive & Well – March 7 through April 4

Fifteen Windows Gallery on Cherokee Street is kicking off its third year of exhibitions with this group show dedicated to the art of sign painting. Curated by Dan Ricketts, Alive & Well includes work from artists such as Joe Allhoff, Kelly Lee, Phil Jarvis, and many more.

Courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan – March 14 through August 16

If your Roman Empire is the literal Roman Empire, you’ll want to make time to stop by the Saint Louis Art Museum in the months ahead for Ancient Splendor. Co-organized by StArt and the Saint Louis Art Museuma and curated by Lucrezia Ungaro, archaeological curator of the city of Rome, Ancient Splendor will fill galleries with artifacts and antiquities from the height of Rome’s power.

We Each Hold Stories – Through May 2

The recently renovated Sheldon Concert Hall & Galleries make an excellent backdrop for We Each Hold Stories, a broad survey of contemporary Indigenous American art. Featuring paintings, sculpture, beadwork, textiles, and other media, We Each Hold Stories “addresses land, identity, and visual culture, embodying vibrant contemporary practices that weave together personal and collective histories,” according to co-curator Tom Jones of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

Courtesy of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Courtesy of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China – Through July 27

More than 40 large-scale images created in China between 1993 and 2006 will fill the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum’s Barney A. Ebsworth Gallery as part of this powerful photography exhibition. Looking Back Toward the Future explores how this group of artists used varied approaches to capture a nation in the midst of rapid sociopolitical, economic, and cultural change.

Sanctuaries of the City – Through June 14

The Field House Museum’s Sanctuaries of the City exhibit highlights eight places of worship: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Centenary United Methodist Church, St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church, Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, St. John Nepomuk Chapel, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church and B’nai El Congregation. The collection explores not only the aesthetics and architecture of these buildings, but their history and that of communities around them.

READ MORE: Sanctuaries of the City celebrates faith and community at the Field House Museum

Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting – Through December 13

Curated by Dana Turkovic, Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting looks back on 50 years of art and artist relationships at Laumeier Sculpture Park. The exhibition inside Aronson Fine Arts Center includes rarely seen works from the Laumeier collection, unrealized projects, and pieces that explore the creative process of bringing Laumeier exhibitions to life.

READ MORE: St. Louis spring and summer arts guide