Have you ever felt shocked to discover something you never knew existed in the city in which you live? Grand Center Arts District is a lot like that. While you’re familiar with our museums – from the Contemporary Art Museum to the International Photography Hall of Fame – did you also know that we are home to nearly a dozen (some, under-the-radar) galleries that feature an impressive rotation of work year-round? Try something new and plan an afternoon around our Grand Center Arts District Gallery Hop!
If you love photography….
Bullivant Gallery is the place to know. More than just a gallery, it’s a one-stop-shop for printing and museum quality framing – and is a trusted collaborator of artists, photographers, designers and galleries throughout the region. While their exhibitions run several times a year, the team welcomes visitors weekly by appointment during business hours.
The Sheldon Art Galleries celebrates its 20th Anniversary milestone season with six major exhibitions featuring icons of photography, architecture, and more. ‘The Immigrants: Works by Master Photographers’ runs from October 5, 2018 – January 12, 2019 in the Gallery of Photography, and will feature the work of more than 40 photographers from the 1860s – 2015.
If you love supporting local and emerging artists…..
The Metropolitan Artist Lofts are living spaces specifically designed for working artists, so naturally, they have a first-floor gallery space that houses works by residents and more. Curated by its resident artists, the gallery features a rotating roster of works that have a close connection to the Grand Center community-at-large.
The Kranzberg Arts Center Gallery is the heart of one of the city’s largest creative nonprofits, hosting everything from cutting-edge exhibits to individual shows from artists in their incubator program. Their next show opens on Oct. 11 and is entitled ‘Cry of Victory and Short Walks to Freedom: Over you/you’ by Oscar Murillo and curated by Modou Dieng. It consists of over 150 placards, which become the basis for a protest in limbo within the gallery space. Be prepared to be moved.
Inside the Centene Center for the Arts, the Arthur & Helen Baer Visual Arts Gallery features everyone from established artists to students and emerging talent. Gallery spaces are located in the public areas of the Centene Center and support the organizations’ mission to provide grants, aid, and studio spaces to local artists and arts-focused organizations. The Arts & Education Council also hosts a variety of events throughout the year in their gorgeous rooftop event space.
Duet Gallery brings together local and visiting artists for impressive showcases that span various themes and mediums. Gallery shows often run pop-up style creating an unexpected and under-the-radar hub for emerging artists.
If you love a cocktail while viewing art…..
Grab a martini and peruse local art over dinner at The Dark Room at the Grandel. Supported by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Dark Room features single and group exhibitions for established artists and newbies. In addition to an exhibition, featured artists also receive support from the curator including studio visits, professional, archival printing, and installation guidance in preparation for their exhibition. (Oh, and they are currently hosting an open call for artists and curators now – Apply here!)
Opening Nov. 1, the Angad Arts Hotel will be the newest destination in the District to view and enjoy art. Throughout guest rooms and the many public areas of the building, visitors will explore art in a variety of forms, from stunning visual art displays and motion graphics to pop-up performances and music. Be sure to grab a cocktail at one of four bars – Grand Tavern, the Rainbow Terrace, The Angad Playroom, or the Chameleon Lounge – and explore away.
If you love arts education…
Saint Louis University Studio Art allows the public to explore recent work by students in the Saint Louis University studio art program. Studio art students at Saint Louis University expand and sharpen their artistic abilities through practice in media such as ceramics and sculpture, painting, drawing, fibers, metals, photography, printmaking, computer art and graphic design.
The Vaughn Cultural Center promotes awareness of African American history and culture through exhibits, storytelling and special programs. They feature African American art, exhibits, regional and national artists and provides a venue for local poets, musicians as well as published writers and are open 5-days a week from 10am-5pm.
Creative Exchange Lab‘s pop-up style gallery follows their focus of architecture and civic progress while complimenting their progressive lecture and event series’ designed to educate and inform. Their current exhibition, ‘Architextures & Dualities,’ is a retrospective of works by Timothy Michael Burns, featuring a series of collagraphs from the late 1970s, still life and urban architectural photographic investigations which span the last decade, and recent monoprint and mixed media works.