From the ancient ruins of Pompeii to vintage French automobiles to novelty chess sets, there’s so much to explore around the StL this summer. We’re spotlighting exhibitions that will inspire and intrigue you—be sure to catch them before they’re gone!
Ancestors That We Are
Through June 28 | The Gallery at The Kranzberg
The work of Kranzberg Arts Foundation Resident Artist Mee Jey, the exhibit features a series of multidisciplinary pieces that contemplate the changing meaning of ancestors, especially for individuals who are distanced from their ancestral land.
kranzbergartsfoundation.org
The Artist Who Captured Eichmann
Through June 1 | St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
Artist Peter Malkin was also a Mossad agent who played a pivotal role in apprehending Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. This exhibition features several silkscreen prints of Malkin’s original artwork, including pieces that were created during his three-week mission in Buenos Aires that resulted in Eichmann’s capture.
stlholocaustmuseum.org
Behind the Big Top: The Artistry of Circus Flora
Through July 10 | The Dark Room Gallery
Photographer Ryan Stanley offers a behind the scenes look at the rhythm and rigor of circus life through his intriguing and intimate photos of Circus Flora.
thedarkroomstl.com
FREAK SHOW: Mixed Media and Drawings by William H. Thielen
June 13 – July 19 | St. Louis Artists Guild
The work of artist William H. Thielen uses abstraction, color and unconventional materials to explore emotional intensity and the tension created by thrusting opposite extremes together.
stlouisartistsguild.org
Gateway to Pride
Through July 6 | Missouri History Museum
It’s not too late to check out the first-ever full-scale exhibit on St. Louis’ LGBTQIA+ history before it closes this summer. Gateway to Pride showcases meaningful artifacts, striking images and insightful oral histories collected through a community-driven initiative.
mohistory.org
Growing Together: Fisher-Price Toys Across Generations
Through Aug. 31 | Field House Museum
Celebrate the history and legacy of one of America’s most iconic toy makers. The exhibit features a collection of vintage Fisher-Price toys that explore how items can inspire generations of children.
fieldhousemuseum.org
It’s Just a Toy
Through June 29 | Third Degree Glass Factory
South Korean glass artist Hoseok Youn presents a playful take on traditional Venetian glass techniques. Youn uses the medium to create sculptures inspired by comic book and video game characters.
thirddegreeglassfactory.com
Live Art Market
Wednesdays through June 25 | City Foundry
City Foundry transforms into an open-air gallery. Enjoy live music, dance, portrait sessions, street performers, muralists and surprise pop-ups from local artists.
cityfoundrystl.com
Like Water
Through Aug. 10 | Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Featuring work from an international collection of artists, the exhibit addresses the subject of water and fluidity in a variety of ways and across different mediums, such as sculpture, video, ceramics, drawing, textiles, collage and painting.
camstl.org
Seeds: Containers of the World to Come
Through July 28 | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
The exhibit creates dialogue about ecological concern through the work of 10 contemporary artists on plant-human-land relationships. The seed serves as the center of an investigation in fragility, preservation and the global climate crisis.
kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu
Paws and Pawns: Exploring Animals Chess Sets
Through Aug. 31 | World Chess Hall of Fame
Explore a menagerie of animal-themed chess sets from around the world, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the animal kingdom to chess artists. Many of these are from the collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, while others are on loan from artists, members of Chess Collectors International and local collectors.
worldchesshof.org
Pompeii: The Exhibition
Through Sept. 15 | Saint Louis Science Center
Travel back to 79 A.D. when Pompeii was an important commercial and military city with 150 authentic artifacts and engaging interactives. New for this year, the exhibit takes visitors through the different stages of the Mount Vesuvius eruption, and guests can also check out 3D holographic displays of competitions between various classes of gladiators.
slsc.org
Roaring: Art Fashion & The Automobile in France, 1918-1939
Through July 27 | Saint Louis Art Museum
Step into the dazzling world of 1920s and ‘30s France! Explore 12 stunning vintage cars alongside more than 100 works of art, fashion and design that shaped a bold new era.
slam.org
Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects
Through July 27 | Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Explore four decades of artist Veronica Ryan’s groundbreaking work with more than 100 sculptures, textiles and more.
pulitzerarts.org
Pictured at the top: Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects
