Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA)

SLUMA is open to the public 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday.

Explore Virtual Exhibitions at SLUMA

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Established in 2002, the Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA) exhibits and collects works by modern masters, as well as displaying an extensive collection of Jesuit artworks and artifacts.

The SLU museum's permanent collection includes artists such as Chuck Close, Robert Motherwell, Jasper Johns, Kiki Smith, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, and continues to grow. An exquisite collection of Dale Chihuly glass is displayed in SLUMA's contemporary gallery.

Housed in a stunning Beaux Arts style building that dates from the turn of the 20th century, the museum offers a range of works on four floors.

• Judith and Adam Aronson Gallery (First Floor)
• Modern and Contemporary Art (Second Floor)
• Collection of the Western Jesuit Missions (Third Floor)
• John and Ann MacLennan Collection of Asian Decorative Arts (Fourth Floor)

Opening Reception: Ink Tributes and Divergent Paths

5-8 p.m., Friday, August 25, 2023

The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available at the lot at the intersection of Lindell Boulevard and Spring Avenue.

About Ink Tributes

Marlon West of Disney Animation was content to make photo tableaus of action figures as a silly creative outlet between Zoom meetings and housework during COVID-19 lockdown. That came to a crashing halt with the murder of George Floyd, when he started these comic-book-style tributes. He says, "For many of us Black nerds, Marvel's characters are particularly relatable. They are often hated and hunted by the powers that be. They are aliens, or born different, or having to deal with harsh cards dealt to them. They are feared, despised, shunned, and misunderstood. There isn't a more American form of portraiture than black 'inks' over white, to honor those that faced this nation's fear and loathing of the Black body."

There is a woman shot in bed, a woman shot while peering from her window investigating strange sounds, and a man shot on his own couch eating ice cream. There's a runner chased and killed on the street, a child pulled from his bed, beaten and killed over a supposed insult, and another child crushed under guards for throwing a sandwich. There's a writer and birdwatcher threatened with police action and lied about, a Black officer who put himself in harm's way on January 6, and a white officer murdered by the same white supremacist mob, his death still unsolved. There's a youngster shot while walking home from buying candy and a talented violinist who was killed by police because he looked "suspicious" for wearing a ski mask to keep warm. There are also defenders of civil and women's rights.

About the Artist

Marlon West is an award-winning animator, head of effects, and VFX supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

About Divergent Paths

Divergent Paths surveys artworks from the permanent collection of Saint Louis University Museum of Art, examining how artists from different periods and artistic movements have worked in divergent styles. The exhibition showcases a wide range of artworks, spanning from the early 20th century to the present day and highlights the diverse artistic approaches and techniques employed by the featured artists.

The exhibition begins by exploring works from the 20th century, a period marked by the emergence of major avant-garde movements in European art. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Fernand Léger were at the forefront of this transformative era, breaking away from traditional artistic conventions and exploring new forms of expression.

Divergent Paths also acknowledges the notable divergence of Der Blaue Reiter group, which included Wassily Kandinsky among its members. This collective was motivated by a profound desire to address feelings of alienation in the face of rapid modernization and to delve into the spiritual significance of art.

As the exhibition progresses into the 20th century, it examines the emergence of Postmodernism, a period characterized by a dissolution of boundaries between high and popular culture, as well as concurrent developments of various artistic styles. This period witnessed a divergence from traditional artistic approaches, paving the way for innovative and experimental art forms that reflected the evolving social, cultural and artistic landscapes of the time.

Divergent Paths offers a comprehensive and insightful examination into how artists from different periods and movements have taken distinct artistic paths, shaping the trajectory of art history. It also highlights the dynamic and transformative power of art in shaping cultural narratives and human experiences.

SLUMA By the Numbers