We are pleased to present The Conversation, an invitational and juried exhibition with works by artists from the St. Louis region.

The Conversation is presented January 8-February 16, 2022. Gallery is free & open to the public Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Sundays. Dates & hours subject to change.

The Conversation is a visual art exhibition featuring artworks that were created by at least two individual artists working in concert with one another to create a unique artwork. The final collaborative artwork demonstrates a dialogue or conversation between all artists who contributed to the creation of the piece. This multi-media exhibit includes works by juried and invited artists.

We invite you to view our Facebook album for this exhibition here and to come see the show in-person before it closes at 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 16.

Our Jurors were artists Ilene Berman and Kevin Kao. For the invitational portion of this exhibit, Art Saint Louis Artistic Director Robin Hirsch-Steinhoff invited artists who have strong independent/solo art careers but who have also been collaborating on artworks, creating exciting and original works with other artists. Works in a variety of media will be featured, including ceramics, drawing, mixed media, painting, printmaking, textiles, video, and woodworking.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

For the safety of Gallery visitors as well as for our Staff, we offer these PROTOCOLS & SAFETY MEASURES in accordance and compliance with City of St. Louis health mandates and CDC recommendations:

•    All guests over age 5 must wear a mask;
•    Social distancing is recommended;
•    Guest sign-in at our reception desk;
•    Sanitizing Stations are available throughout our space;
•    Staff regularly cleans surfaces and other areas throughout the day.

SCHOOL GROUPS
Schools are welcome to the Gallery but are asked to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 2 weeks in advance.

OUR JURORS
• Ilene Berman is a sculptor and community artist whose work deals with issues of social justice. Her practice is based on her belief that art can and should change the world. She understands change to be the result of small shifts often inspired by simple artful gestures. For the past eight+ years, Berman's practice has primarily been focused on addressing St. Louis’ Delmar Divide by becoming a catalyst for arts initiatives with neighborhood residents and businesses in order to challenge the embedded negative narrative of life North of Delmar. Her project, Room13Delmar, a tricycle-based mobile art studio, is the recipient of an Interchange Artists Grant. Ilene holds a MFA in Sculpture from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is currently Assistant Professor of Art at Saint Louis University. 
• Kevin Kao is an artist who is interested in the perception of value and its relationship to history, craft and authorship and questions these ideas through a uniquely clay perspective: examining how the material has been handled historically, and how it can be used to address body, identity, and otherness. Kao uses humor and innuendo to more closely examine as well as to question otherwise complicated ideas such as race, objectification, and individuality—a method that can deflect and anesthetize social stereotypes and sensitivities. Kao is Assistant Professor of Art, Furman University, Greenville, SC. Previously Kevin was Associate Professor of Art, McKendree College, Lebanon, IL (2016-2021). He holds a MFA from University Tennessee, a BS in biology from University of California, San Diego, and a Certificate in Museum Studies from San Diego Mesa College.

JURIED ARTISTS
• CB Adams** and Mark Bade** Award of Excellence
• Katherine Alexander and Greg Holden
• Kayla Bailey and Elizabeth Moore
• Linda Buechting and Kay Sutherland
• Leona Busse* and Megan Noldon* Best of Show Award
• Jo Jasper Dean and Vicki Hefty
• Tamara Eberle, Ralph Wilke and Grace Eberle
• Tamara Eberle and Ralph Wilke
• Diane Epstein and Steve Epstein
• Dina Fachin** and Sole Van Emden** Award of Excellence
• Suzy Farren***, Carlene Fullerton***, Eden Harris***, and Jean Lopez*** Honorable Mention
• Faces Not Forgotten: Evelyn Astegno, Sharon Charmely, Mindi Dennis, Peggy Normal Hill, Christine Ilewski, Julie Malone, and Peggy Williamson

• Faces Not Forgotten: Jeff Braw, Christine Ilewski, Connie Lamport, Jane Martin, Barbara Merlotti, Carolyn Owen Sommer, and Javonne Spitz
• Faces Not Forgotten: Hannah Decker, Bill Perry, Chrysty Sawyer, and Carolyn Owen Sommer
• Robert Kokenyesi** and Kathy Hammock** Award of Excellence
• Connie LaFlam and Paul LaFlam
• Sukanya Mani, Pratima Murali, and Shilpa Rao
• Kristin Martin and Bishoppe Kamusinga
• Justin Henry Miller and Chris Wubbena
• Brian Mitchell** and Nikolaos Trikalinos** Award of Excellence
• Philip Padilla*** and Katie Clafee*** Honorable Mention
• Alan Sandler and Amanda Gerard
• Keith Spoeneman and Bill Christman
• Elizabeth Stensland and Dylan Fitzgibbons
• Michelle J. Streiff*** and Donna Lochmann*** Honorable Mention

All artists in this exhibition are based in the STL region.

* = Best of Show Award
** = Award of Excellence
*** = Honorable Mention

Justin Henry Miller & Chris Wubbena. “Bust Redux.” 2020. Oil, Acrylic, Aerosol on Panel, 17.5”x12.5”. $900.

Elizabeth Stensland & Dylan Fitzgibbons. “Lylan.” 2019. Ceramic, Fiber, 25”x17”x17”. $450.

Robert Kokenyesi & Kathy Hammock. “Ancient Remnants.” 2021. Ceramics, Driftwood, Manipulated Fiber, Textiles, 6”x30”x25”. $300. This artwork was selected for an Award of Excellence.

Tamara Eberle, Ralph Wilke. “Retro.” 2021. Digital Art, 16”x16”. $400.