Beat the heat and head inside this month to take in some art at one of the season's many exhibitions and gallery shows. From immersive experiences to interactive explorations, there's plenty to see this month at the city's many galleries. Here are a few must-see shows to catch in August.
Long Story Short – Through August 20
Personal histories and narratives are evoked through painting, mixed media, sculpture, and more in Webster Arts' summer exhibition, Long Story Short. Juried by local artist Shilpa Rao, the exhibition aims to give viewers "a window into the unknown worlds of heartache, joy, prejudice, anxiety, love, and transformation."
Currents 121: Oscar Murillo – Through August 28
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Colombian artist Oscar Murillo has resided in his hometown of La Paila, focusing his energy on the physicality of painting. The works he created there are part of an ongoing series of large works characterized by bold swaths of color and an unmistakable physical presence. The series, manifestation (2018–), examines not only the individual use of one's body to create art, but to demonstrate dissent. See Murillo's colorful, powerful works on view at the Saint Louis Art Museum through the end of summer.
Quantum Kansas: An Anthropocene Study – Through August 27
Dr. Bill Russell has spent 70 years observing and investigating Kansas, and in doing so, he's created a series of works that reach across media–calligraphy, garments, photography, and more–to try to capture and interpret the world around him. "As a conceptual folk artist on the autism spectrum, I make art as a means to understand the world around me," says Russell in his artist statement. "Using color, form, volume, and perspective, I invite the audience to explore the underlying, often unseen, connections between the spaces we inhabit and the society that shapes us." Catch his diverse array of works on display at the Kranzberg Arts Center through August 27.
Detail from Dr. Bill Russell's “Quantum Kansas: an Anthropocene Study," courtesy of the artist.
(all the) Feels – Through September 3
The wide world of moods and emotion served as inspiration for this visual art exhibition at Art Saint Louis. Nearly 60 artists from across the region have works on display in (all the) Feels, expressing feelings such as anguish, gratitude, mourning, and joy through varied mediums. The juried exhibition is on display beginning July 30, and a free public reception will be held Saturday, August 6.
Catching the Moment – Through September 11
Don't miss your chance to see the first exhibition featuring the newly acquired Ted L. and Maryanne Ellison Simmons Collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum this summer. The far-reaching contemporary collection features more than 40 artists whose work captures the issues, aesthetics, and stories of the past 60 years. Pay particular attention to the gallery dedicated to the work of Mexican-born American painter Enrique Chagoya.
Botanical Resonance: Plants and Sounds in the Garden – Through March 2023
Sound takes center stage at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in this new exhibition at the reopened Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum. The collection highlights the relationship between plants and sound through the works of three artists: Kevin Harris, Brooke Erin Goldstein, and Annika Kappner. Be sure to scan the accompanying QR codes at the exhibition to access sound walks that provide a guided meditation for exploring the gardens.
Brook Erin Goldstein, "Reverberations." Photo by Virginia Harold.
Selections From The 9INHANDPRESS 2022 Seventh Annual Print Exchange 2022 – August 19 through September 17
Students and professionals alike submitted their work to the annual 9INHANDPRESS International Print Exchange, and now 80 of those submissions are coming to St. Louis Artist Guild's Ramp Gallery. The many techniques and approaches embraced by the printmaking community will be on full display in this exhibition that highlights an art form that reaches "across borders, language barriers, and time."
Coloring STL – August 20 through February 18, 2024
The newest exhibition from the Missouri History Museum gives visitors a chance to embrace their creativity while learning about the impressive architectural history of our city. More than 50 St. Louis landmarks have been rendered on the walls of the museum's galleries in black and white, waiting to be colored in by attendees each day.
Forest Through the Trees – August 27 through December 11
The fall exhibit at Laumeier Sculpture Park examines the relationship between artists and trees, giving viewers the opportunity to both reconnect with the permanent collection and experience new artists who focus on or use trees as part of their art practice. Head to Laumeier on August 27 for an introduction to the exhibition and a performance of Katie Paterson's immersive art piece "To Burn."
Ambivalent Pleasures: Advertiser Content in American Art – August 29 through January 2, 2023
This collection of Pop art pieces from the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum focuses on the art of the consumable and the commercial, examining how marketing influences both art and our lives. Experience an array of pieces that borrow imagery from product packaging, advertising, Hollywood, and other mass media.
Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004), Bedroom Painting #2, 1968. Oil on canvas, 48 1/2 x 83 1/2 x 2 5/8". University purchase, Bixby Fund, 1968.
