I finally realized this museum was free, and so we came here after brunch. There is a small parking lot behind the Pulitzer next door and street parking everywhere. This is also surprisingingly near the Fox Theater! We were welcomed in very warmly! The attendant at the front desk explained everything: all the exhibits, what to expect, which artists are there now, and what to expect in the fall season. Honestly, she was delightful! There is also a small cafe inside where I got a small iced chai. After that, and browsing the 1st floor, we went upstairs. The 2nd floor features more locally made art from Middle School and High School art programs. It was really delightful to see the range of mediums! My toddler's favorite part was the playroom. Although, it is quite small, but it was just him with lots and lots of interactive and imaginative play! We look forward to see the next exhibit after installation! read more

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I really enjoyed my time at CAM. It's a free contemporary art museum and right next door is the Pulitzer. They host fun events too. It's a bit on the smaller side so temper your expectations accordingly. The staff is incredible! Their collections are always really thoughtful. Worth a visit. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The CAM is the best hidden gem! The ever changing art installations are always unique. I am not a big contemporary art person but this is such a great way to spend time in doors! The staff is incredibly helpful and welcoming! For the foodies, there is an AO&Co located in the corner! Great place that not enough people talk about. read more

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You can keep your pricey therapy; I just need a good art museum! I went to the Contemporary Art Museum and felt like a whole new woman. The current exhibit is called Like Water! The features illustrate how water is necessary for life but sometimes destructive. Upstairs, there's this layered and soothing installation about the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Don't worry guys, I am now a river scholar. Admission to this museum is FREE. Art museums are good for the soul. I just bumble often backtracking to compare. Worth the visit! You should check it out. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

While contemporary art isn't my forte or preference, the staff here deserves 5 stars. They were so welcoming and happy to help! I had a lovely conversation with the two at the front desk about what to see and do in the area (their recommendations were *chef's kiss*). They gave a great explanation about the current exhibit Like Water which addresses water in multiple ways and forms. This is a great art museum and a good size for kids curious about contemporary art. Bathrooms were very clean. read more

Free museum with interesting artists (typically feature one artist at a time). Saw Paul Chan Breathers collection, which was comprised of billowing fabric inflatable wacky arm figures. You can see everything in about 30-60 min. Street parking is easy. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2024 read more

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As a fairly new resident to St. Louis, relocating from Chicago, where I was a member of the contemporary art museum in Chicago Illinois, a wonderful open spacious building, within a wonderful area within the city of Chicago. The contemporary museum here within St. Louis is definitely wonderful site, definitely not going to compare the both, I've the enjoyed this wonderful design of the museum, especially the views of the outdoors from the great glass windows, and the wonderful art especially the curator well displayed of Art. A definite museum to visit and view some great art! read more

Cool place and it's free. It wasn't too big. Just enough stuff for a great visit and a wonderful shared courtyard with the Pulitzer Arts center. There was a kid's room for our baby to explore things. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Featured artist - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Am I a contemporary art fan? Idk sometimes? They have very cool window installations (or maybe windows into the exhibits) I pass on the way to work. These are often what lure me in. It's a really big space that just feels calm. So probs great place to go when stressed. Street parking is usually abundant and it's free! read more

Some of the art was interesting, much of it was thought provoking, some of it was not enjoyed. But that's the deal with "contemporary" art - it's designed to do all of those things. Beautiful galleries and the catwalk was impressive. The moving artwork - palm fronds stuck into personal massagers - was unique. There is definitely much to see here and hopefully, there's something that you'll enjoy. [Review 14447 overall, 1773 of 2020, number 81 in Missouri.] read more

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Very clean and contemporary! The museum is tucked off in a quiet location. They have pamphlets to explain some of the work and it's a cool spot for a quick day date. It took about 40 min to do a walk thru and they have plenty of staff to answer any questions or guide you as need be. read more

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I love that this is free and has a revolving door in terms of exhibits! What a great place to come in a couple times a year to check out some fantastic art. We loved our first exhibit and were looking forward to the next exhibits. read more

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I've come here a couple times with some friends and we're always intrigued and astonished at some of the works in here. The main level is usually 1-2 artists' gallery and upstairs is where they keep children's work from the surrounding community (don't underestimate). I do wish this museum had more space for at least one more artist because you can walk through here pretty quick but the quality of work showcased never disappoints. As a young artist myself it's very encouraging to see the variety of marginalized voices they share. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Ive been here twice now because they have programs for kids some weekend mornings. The programs are well thought out and the kids enjoy them. Ive looked a bit at the museum, and what I've seen looks pretty cool. Upstairs theres a play room for kids to play in, which mine really likes to visit. The exhibits seem to change regularly, so it might be worth visiting periodically. Im not super into modern art, but as far as I can tell this place is free, so you might as well check it out. read more

I can't believe this museum is free! I thought the only free ones would be in Forest Park, so this was such a nice surprise. St. Louis may not be the funniest place in the world, but the amount of free things it has is truly so admirable. Here are my favorite parts of this museum: - I really appreciate the fact that the artwork here is ever-changing. You could come so many times without getting bored and I think that is a wonderful thing. - Is the artwork as diverse as SLAM? No, but I appreciate that they have many pieces from the same artist so you can really get a good understanding of how the artist thinks about their line of work. - There aren't that many people who visit, even on a Friday, so it's so great to just feel like you have the entire museum to yourself. - Most importantly, I think the best part of the museum is that most the architecture is absolutely beautiful. There was this open area with a small infinity pool with a tiny glimpse of fall in the background it was truly one of the most serene and beautiful things I have seen in St. Louis. I love the way the space is designed! - And lastly, what can beat a free museum? Overall, fantastic experience here. There are so many green spaces, and I would highly recommend just coming and sitting to enjoy the views. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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It had been a while since I visited CAM, but I came here this past Saturday and loved ALL of the exhibits on display. Two of the main gallery exhibits were from black artists showing black culture and racial injustice in two totally different ways. The artists are Ebony G. Patterson and Kahlil Robert Irving. Excellent exhibits! There was also cool artwork from Tim Portlock showing the juxtaposition between old decaying buildings amid new skyscraper construction. Very thought provoking work from all. Rachel Youn was the artist of the installation which filled a room with secondhand massagers with silk flowers, changing bright lights, and music playing. I enjoyed it. Keep up the great work CAMSTL! read more

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I came to the Contemporary Art Museum last week to see the Stories of Resistance exhibit I had read about. It was easy to reserve a free socially distanced ticket online. I was able to reserve one just 30 minutes before I went. I checked in easily and the girl at the desk explained how to enter and travel through the exhibit with audio tour options. I walked through the tour with a small stroller and there was signage giving you guidance as to how many people were allowed in smaller sections which I appreciated. The exhibit was wonderful and it was nice to enjoy it without any crowds. It was a great experience and I recommended the exhibit to my friends. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Didn't know what to expect coming here. Museum is free. Upstairs they have art from High school kids talking about equity & equality. Downstairs there's more adult art from when we visited. Very abstract, thought provoking, graphic. Don't bring kids to the downstairs there is nudity. Very fun place. read more

I didn't know this place was here. It's quiet and a cool place to take the kids. My children loved it. It has an area for children with coloring sheets, blank paper, color pencils and crayons, books, etc. The kids enjoyed the high school students artwork and we spent about 45 min just hanging out. A nice place to visit on a rainy day. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Books in the kids area - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Contemporary museum's all have very interesting and weird things. The St. Louis museum is a smaller one, but did have some interesting are displays. It was interesting to view the education area with art made by kids. We enjoyed our visit and it had been on my list a while. read more

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Exhibitions - overall small collection of exhibitions; two exhibitions currently on display. Parking - there's plenty of street parking along Washington Blvd and Spring Ave. I found parking in said locations free on a Sunday afternoon. Front Desk - was helpful and informative in describing the museum exhibitions, and rules regarding photography in the gallery spaces. Coat & Bag Check - I chose to utilize the "coat & bag check", but was surprised to see they held my coat and bag against a wall behind the front desk. I honestly felt a little uneasy leaving my belongs in plain sight like that; but I did, checked up on my things a couple of times, and didn't have any issues whatsoever. Food & Beverage- the café has hours separate from the museum. I was there on a Sunday afternoon and found the café was closed. read more

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This place hasn't had it's lack of controversy over the years. That said, it aways comes back into the spotlight with risky and interesting exhibits. The coffee shop is slower than drying paint. Skip that unless you have at least 30 min to wait for a coffee or wine. For events: it's a good place to hold one. Plenty of open space, good layout and backdrop, good location, good parking. The film festival showings here were eh. They held at least half the seats as "reserved" until the last minute when someone said "oh, these aren't reserved" and all the late comers piled in the front after early birds had piled in the back. You couldn't see much since the screen was so low. I'll be screening those elsewhere. The art is at least usually very good, even if there is only a small amount. It's free, whaddya want? read more

My friend and I were visiting St. Louis over a First Friday weekend when a lot of the Grand Street museums and galleries stay open late and are all free to enter! One of the museums we wandered through was the CAMSTL. I don't want to sound like a grumpy old person, but contemporary art isn't usually my thing. But it was interesting to look through their collection. They did have a few pieces that really interested me and kept me inside longer. They also had a bar, drinks, and a DJ spinning, which I wasn't expecting. It was definitely an interesting place! read more

Contemporary Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Amazing experience, fantastic space, amazing exhibit, staff was wonderful, oh and it's free! Highly recommend stopping in to see this great little St. Louis gem. read more

Thought provoking yet sparse. The exhibits where well curated but I would have liked to see more in a venue so large and a bit out of the way. On the plus side, Te museum is free and seems to switch out exhibits fairly often. read more

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This is one of the best places to see not for profit contemporary fine art. No one worries about will it sell before they exhibit here. Its generally a much younger and hipper crowd that what you'd fine at SLAM or even the Kemper museum at WU, and that makes the openings and special events so much more fun. Become a museum member and not only get free admission, but during openings and special events, free drinks! A new curator here has made all the difference and look to some interesting work in the future. read more

My wife and I recently had our wedding reception at the CAM. When we first visited venues, the staff at the CAM was quick to provide information on reserving the venue, and held our date for us until we made the decision soon after. There are some caveats to the contract (no red wine, limited set up times) but those were non issues. We also did not know what pieces would be up since we booked almost a year in advance. Since it is a contemporary art museum, there may at times be exhibits with adult themes, so keep that in mind while booking. The night of our event went great. The staff was super friendly and approachable. The bartenders were very outgoing. When we realized we had left some chairs there after our event, we returned find them secured for us to pick up. Over all, the CAM was a great place to hold our event. It was a terrific venue for 150 guests, room for a band, and a dance floor. I would recommend this as a spot to hold a reception or gala in STL, or as a place to spend a couple hours admiring frequently rotating exhibits of modern art. read more

Unleash your creative side ! Spacious and dynamic environment. Many levels and various rooms. Famous for free events and weird music. Myriad of evoking emotion media. Boring for some, peaceful for others. Constantly changing people count. Do not touch whatever you are not supposed to touch or take pics when not appropriate or you will get a serious look from the staff... I was wearing a batman t-shirt and some kid pointed out to him mom - "Look mom - it's batman." CAM will make you believe :) Needlepoint art and Apocalyptic Wonderland event stand out so far. They have a little gift shop and a nice bar. read more

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I nice large gallery with rotating exhibits. a must stop for me each time I'm in St. Louis. This visit I saw Sheila Hicks textile art installation. Very nice. The other 2 exhibits meh... Not on the scale of Chicago or Kansas City's contemporary museums but worth supporting. read more

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Umm so the music was blaring - there was very little To see (give yourself 20 minutes tops) and the teen Little Red Riding hood was beyond creepy. Pass this one. read more

Well....it's free. That's a bonus. I paid for 2 hour parking but it took us about 20 minutes to get through the place. Bah! I felt like the faux security people were following us. I guess they had nothing better to do. The space is huge but there was not much to see. Again it's free. I got upstairs to check out what was up there. One display and a small library. The place is free so I can't knock it too much. Some of the art pieces were interesting. I got easily distracted by that odd feeling the faux security person was following me. I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't for that. I wish there little art store had more to buy. I don't get why artists don't try to have prints of their work to sell when their art is on display. Maybe that's not how the art world works. I'd like to end this by saying it's free and if you pay for parking just do 30 minutes. And look out behind you the faux security person is watching you. read more

Great scenery and always an interesting exhibit. A great idea for a stop on a date or even hosting an event they have a space you can rent out. They serve refreshments, but have to be kept in the same area. read more

In an area where the "country bears and baskets" look prevails, the Contemporary Art Museum (affectionately termed "The Contemporary") is much-needed breath of fresh air in St. Louis! A few years ago, The Contemporary did a great thing by partnering with St. Louis Magazine and A-B and hosting "Select Nights", where the general public was allowed free admission and a free beer once a month, usually around the time of a new exhibit. The concept was genius, as it de-mystified art in general and made The Contemporary accessible to people who normally wouldn't go out of their way to be there. Located in Grand Center, The Contemporary is an amazing space, both for artwork and socializing. Some might say the concrete floors and open floor plan make it cold or hard, but if you've been there for a major event you'd know that the lack of design makes it a blank canvas with many possibilities. The staff has gotten some minor celebrities to attend their fundraisers, including Carson Kressley and Cheech Merin. The only complaint about The Contemporary is that, like many things in St. Louis, their installations are several years behind the rest of the country. Took a friend from Brooklyn there last fall and he was unimpressed with the current exhibit...apparently he'd seen it awhile back in San Francisco. Granted, this guy's exposure to art was above and beyond the average museum patron, but it was a little deflating. Here I was, showing off one of my favorite spots and it was "so five minutes ago". Regardless, I think the Contemporary is a gem in St. Louis. The staff and the museum itself are not pretentious, snobbish or exclusive. If you want to get a peek at cutting-edge artwork and ideas, stop by and take a look for yourself! read more

Amazing location. Very cool rotating exhibits that you wouldn't see anywhere else. I also like just hanging out and working in the café--great coffee and food. Best of all it's free! read more

Bad news first: the CAM is pretty small. Exhibits don't change often and the space is not very well utilized from a practicality stand point. (They are currently exhibiting works of Richard Aldrich, who I just cannot get excited about...) Despite all these, the CAM is a great local institution. I love opening nights here, which are full of energies and packed with art enthusiasts from all ages and walks of life; The CAM hosts great events that are often free and bring people out when the weather is nice. There are usually laid-back local DJs with their own points of view entertaining the crowds at these events. I think every St. Louisan should visit the CAM at least once, and check out its website for activities. Even though the galleries may be small, the Sheldon Concert Hall (with galleries in the side building) just down the street within walking distance would make a great second destination for an art-lover's outing on a weekend afternoon. P.S. Despite all the one star reviews, one must remember that a trip to any art institution is only as fulfilling as its audience's expectation/preference. This is a "Contemporary" Art Museum; you will find weird shit (for the lack of a proper term) here. I don't always have the same idea of what makes an object art as the next person, but I appreciate the museum's existence as an exposure platform and if you go into it with an open mind, you will too. Seriously though, don't be shallow. It's a great place to visit. read more

I've been to the CAM twice now so I figured I'd write a review for it. The first time I came was for the very awesome Yelp Black and Red Ball a few weeks ago. After attending this event, I now see why people like having events here...it's a big, open space! Great for parties. I came back a second time today for the Feast Your Eyes event which is a free event, as Hao and Cherie mentioned in their reviews. I got to sit with both of them as well as Amanda K., who we invited to join Yelp! I am very glad she did because we've already had one great get-together for dinner and it was fun! But yeah! CAM's Feast Your Eyes event seems like a great place to meet other people who love food or local restaurants. Everyone was really nice. The food was pretty tiny but what do you expect for a free event? According to Cherie O., this event was wayyyy better compared with the previous one, so it's good to hear they're constantly looking to improve. It could just be Chef Wes Johnson's spin on things though. There were three dishes but sadly I didn't really like any of them. Potatoes with some kind of mustard sauce, terrine which is a sort of French savory concoction using gelatin and suspended meats/nuts/fruits inside, and some bread with half melted cheese on top. The terrine was probably the best even though it looked odd. The potatoes were downright nasty because of the fact that they were pickled and sour and bland....the mustard they came with was also kind meh and didn't do much for them. But I ended up eating them with my terrine and it was more balanced that way. Like I said, I can't complain since it was free but oh well! In terms of the exhibits, I am not much of a fan. Maybe it's because I prefer more traditional types of art but nothing at CAM was really doing it for me. I just don't "get" the exhibits even when people explain them to me. Yeeeah. I don't think I'd become a member for this reason. But I do enjoy coming to events here so I might be back! read more

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At first it scared me. Minimalist design, all grey slabs of concrete and terrifying stillness. The place is soooo quiet. It's sort of cold and isolating. Or is it? Perhaps that's just their way of getting us to step outside our comfort zone and force our minds to perceive art in a new way. Now that I've really visited a few times, even during special events and artistic performances, I see how beautiful simplicity is. It's a wonderful venue and some of the art is quite provacative. Sometimes it still pushes the limits in my mind, in terms of comfort and familiarity, but always challenges me to re-evaluate. When they have parties here it's a blast and things are so carefully done that it's one of the flawless institutions in the city. read more

Contemporary Art Museum - From Web Site - Art Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Alright so I went to an opening last night, and all I can say is WOW. The Contemporary really stepped up its game with this exhibition, IMO heads and tails above previous exhibits. Self-curated, lots of pieces to study, comfortable-sized galleries, use of many different mediums, and a genuinely great way to spend 1-2 hours (instead of the quick walk-in-and-out qualities of previous shows). Most of all, I'm pleased to see the Contemporary step out and do a self-curated show involving numerous artists, instead of booking touring shows or focusing on just a single artist. In fact, this show will continue to tour elsewhere, and it should, given the size and depth of it. I'm boosting my rating by a full star just based on this single show, because it shows the potential that they have in their staff and leadership. However, they still have a ways to go to establish themselves among a top tier contemporary museum. It seems they still struggle with how to approach the space on the top floor, and while this show does utilize a lot of the space effectively, there are still glaringly empty spots that take away from the experience. Unfortunately the show before this was yet another touring show that focused on a single video artist (and had very little re-visit strength), so the best I can say at this point is check the exhibition before you come, because your entire experience will depend on what is showing. There is little consistency between exhibits, which is either good or bad, depending on your tolerance. All in all, I hope that this exhibition points the contemporary in a new direction. They really brought it with this one, and I hope it's a sign of things to come. read more

I must not be right-brained enough to neither like this place, or "get it". I literally saw a small cardboard box on the wall with piece of cardboard hanging out of it. I accidentally kicked another cardboard box full of random shit (another piece of "art") because it was on the floor. I was perplexed as to why there was a video playing of some girl lying in bed looking sickly in a dark room while a projector flashed random images on the other side. I was utterly confused as to why not only was someone was actually paid to list all the titles of books on Amazon that have the word "God" in them, but that it is considered art. If this sounds like a ball of fun to you, I hope you enjoy it. If you think you may be way too normal (or..er...dare I say...smart?) for this place, then stay away. +1 star for the very Miesian building. I much more appreciate that kind of art. read more

I may not always understand the art, but if I'm ok with that, you should be too. I really appreciate that the CAM is a blank slate for large and small installations alike. Sometimes provocative, sometimes outrageous, sometimes incomprehensible, always welcome. Also have to give them mad love for having my favorite band, Theodore, there the other night. The CAM does host some great events. All the Lego candy you can eat??? Sweet!!! read more