Contemporary Art Museum St Louis

CAM is a great option to spend an hour or two in a beautiful space taking in innovative art. Their current exhibition of kinetic works like a mechanical tyrannosaurus head eating a cow leg is thrilling and makes me feel like a kid watching something magic. You’ve never seen anything like it before. Each time they have something interesting and they also have a great café to hang out at and eat, cheap drinks, and a great view.

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.

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.

I didn’t even realize this place existed so close to my house. I went on a Wednesday, which is when it’s free for students. There are days in general when it’s free to the public, so check their website! There are two levels, the first level has art for the general population I guess. The second level has an age restriction though, and it was definitely my favorite part of the museum. Not going to give anything away, but it stirred some feelings of anger, surprise, and shock. Art doesn’t usually do that to me. It doesn’t take long, you can walk through and see everything in an hour or less if you want.

I went to an event here and the museum was open to the public. I loved being able to walk around and enjoy the art It’s contemporary so beware! I loved the upstairs gallery of adult only which gave a whole new perspective on things. If you get a chance go check it out, it’s so much fun!

This one time I was at this museum with some friends at an event. We were standing in a corner that was being renovated and had torn up rugs and the walls half ripped down. We spent about 30 – 40 minutes hiding out back there, drinking, wondering why they didn’t clean up this unfinished corner of the museum for our super fancy event.
Yeah. I found out later that that corner was a piece of art.
My mind is simultaneously blown by how insanely genius that is and how insanely rifuckingdiculous that is.
The beauty of contemporary art is DEFINITELY in the eye of the beholder. A.K.A., if you don’t like this place, it’s your fault. You’re either really stupid. Or else really smart.

Great experience. Only 4 stars because the panorama restaurant didn’t have high chair for ten month old.

A great place on one of their free nights, which I think are every Thursday and the first Friday of the month? I might be wrong.
The space is massive, we saw the Joy of Love/​British thing and I really dug it.
One of the staff members looked like He-​Man/​Prince Valiant. Awesome.

The events are generally well-​done and enjoyable, though I’m not sure the purpose of a museum is to host big parties. Principally, a museum should be about art and the ideas around it, and serve as a venue to provoke thought and engage a diverse audience. This doesn’t happen, though. The exhibitions are consistently lacking without being horrendous; I’m well-​versed in art history and I still find the shows dull and remote more often than not. They wind up looking like everything the «average» person hates about conceptual art, and rarely do you see something original or imbued with some deeper thinking. Time was, that level of provocation was good and necessary, but those days are long over and that the art fails to connect with people isn’t acceptable. Worse than the mostly mediocre work however is that walking through the museum and looking around is boring, and the generally unfriendly, uninformed staff doesn’t help with that.
It’s also absurd that they charge $ 5 to look at forgettable art in a space about 20% the size of the significantly better and totally free St. Louis Art Museum.

Quite interesting space. Came here for Unhappy Hour on the dreaded Valentine’s Day. Very open & airy. The exhibit that was there was interesting. I’m not a huge modern artsy person, but the exhibit had something. Yeah, really something. Can’t quite put my finger on it. The music was loud, incredibly loud. The DJ was setup near the café. Not a good idea.

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.

Maybe I just had expectations that were way off for a contemporary art museum based in STL? I went with a friend one friday evening for their happy hour event… I honestly did not think there was anything to see at all?! I understand what contemp art is… but this was a bit ridiculous. We each got a beer and left shortly after. Everyone was just standing around and talking to whomever they came with. Pretty boring and disappointed!

I really don’t see the allure of this place. At best they’ve got CAM nights. Honestly, I think they have the CAM nights to compensate for the rest of the place. Kind of pathetic actually if you ask me.

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 Unilocal 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 Unilocal!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!

The CAM can be fun. It can also bore my mind out. I usually come here for cute events or cool events. For example, they do a Feast Your Eyes thing every month (first saturdays 12:30 — 1:30) and I LOVE it. Tasty small portions of food well thought out, inspired by art.
It’s also a great venue for larger events (ie the black and red ball).
I don’t always like it as an art space. All the art i’ve seen here hasn’t been overly memorable. I honestly don’t always get it and when I do, I don’t always like what I get. I guess that’s contemporary art for you.
The space is nifty — concrete and metal — but it doesn’t flow as well. I’m not sure how i’m supposed to be walking through the building. Where do I start? am I going the wrong way?
Anyway, i’ll be back for things they hold, but probably not only for the art… unless I hear about something AMAZING.

I didn’t know much about CAM until I was included in Unilocal’s Black & Red Ball this month.
I have been to the Fox many times and this part of downtown and never knew that this place existed.
Just from the small viewings I got to see that night of the art work up, I do have this on my list of places to go to in St. Louis.
Beyond that the venue is great to rent out if you have some kind of function because it just fits.

I think the CAM is more of a 3.5 star kind of place, but as usual, I always round down when giving halfsies. Sometimes I really love the CAM, and sometimes, I really don’t understand it. And believe it or not, I’m even a member.
First off, I love the architecture of the CAM. It’s minimalist, sleek, and changes as the exhibits change. I too was a little put off by the metal and concrete, but the more I come visit, the more I appreciate it because it really is a versatile background for the art that it is currently exhibiting. As a member, I got to attend an architecture and «back tour» of the CAM, and it was simply fantastic. Our guide pointed out stuff about the concrete and the metal mesh that I had never noticed before, and also pointed out the wall lines of the first floor when we were overlooking it from the second floor. Phenomenal. Their back rooms and offices are pretty awesome too, lots of natural light… you can really tell that they created this museum with art in mind.
The exhibits are usually hit or miss with me. Sometimes, I’ll really like them and sometimes, they are way too out there for me. I like the creativity of each one, and I like how the CAM is not afraid of showcasing artists that other people don’t know about. I like how they are also not afraid of showcasing different kinds of media. Like right now… red carpets from star-​studded events. Neat! There is eventually something for everyone. And I like how they have a resource center upstairs.
I’ve tried to go to more events since becoming a member, but I haven’t really liked many of them, which is why my star rating isn’t higher. I’ve gone to several lectures with the artists, which sound really rehearsed and are pretty much too didactic to me. I’ve tried the Feast Your Eyes series, and all it really is is a huge mob of people wanting the free and few slivers of food and free plentiful alcohol before 2 PM on a Saturday afternoon. I haven’t been really impressed with the CAM nights either; it’s slightly too pretentious for my taste. I do like how it is family friendly and has occasional kid and family events, and also Stroller Tuesdays, when moms can bring their kids in for some fun. But obviously, since I’m childless, I haven’t experienced any of this. I have to say that the architecture tour was really neat though… that was probably one of the best programs I’ve ever been to at a museum, so definite props for that.

The Contemporary Art Museum is a nice, smallish, museum. Being free on Saturdays is a HUGE plus. I stopped by last weekend and there were two exhibits. One sucked royally and the other was good. In a museum like this, I think a «sucks royally» reaction is perfectly valid, although they might prefer me to say something like «I had a strong reaction… it made me challenge my perception of what Art really is.»
A really nice feature of this museum is upstairs; a looping video of an «expert» explaining the artistic value of the featured exhibit. On this particular day, I found it amusing in it’s lack of pertinence, but the concept is good and if I’m going to rate the museum, I give huge props for including this feature.
There are friendly and helpful attendants on hand if you have any questions and to make sure you don’t, you know, start adding your own enhancements to the art or anything like that.
If you think you might be interested, stop by. Combine it with a visit to the Pulitzer next door.

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.

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!!!

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!