EMERSON VISITING CRITICS AND CURATORS SERIES

Each year, as part of its mission to promote the local arts community, the Contemporary invites internationally renowned critics and curators to St. Louis. During their stay, these visiting curators arrange studios visits with local artists, are introduced to area art galleries and institutions, and deliver a free public lecture at the Contemporary. The Emerson Visiting Critics and Curators program provides an important opportunity for artists in St. Louis to have their work reviewed by distinguished writers, artist historians and curators, while working to raise the visibility of St. Louis as an exciting and important cultural center.

Visiting critics and curators in the past have included Nicholas Baume, Valerie Cassel, Thom Collins, James Elaine, Okwui Enwezor, Barbara Hunt, Eungie Joo, Shamim Momim, Sina Najafi, Mari Carmen Ramirez, Susan Snodgrass, Franklin Sirmans, Nato Thompson, and Hamza Walker.

This annual program has been generously sponsored by Emerson since its beginning in 1999.

General support for the Contemporary’s education programs is provided by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation; Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; Regional Arts Commission; Arts and Education Council; Dorte and Jim Probstein; and members of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.