Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Ever wonder how large-scale artworks make their journey to museum galleries? How are monumental pieces installed, transported across the country or overseas, and thoughtfully placed within an exhibition? Join us for an illuminating Art Collaborative presentation with Melissa Venator, Ph.D., Assistant Curator of Modern Art at the Saint Louis Art Museum, who played a key role in the installation of Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea.

Melissa will share behind-the-scenes insights into the curatorial process - what it’s like to collaborate with a living artist, how curators determine where artworks are hung, and the complex choreography required to handle and install large-scale works of art.
Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea marks Kiefer’s first U.S. retrospective in more than 20 years, showcasing the depth and evolution of his nearly 60-year career. He is considered one of the most influential artists of the postwar era, and this exhibition illustrates how he continues to reinvent his artistic language and materials. Becoming the Sea features works spanning the 1970s to the present, culminating with five towering paintings created expressly for this exhibition. Many revolve around a unifying theme - rivers and their power to shape memory, meaning, and transformation.

Join us for a rare glimpse into the art, logistics, and creative relationships that shape major museum exhibitions.

Meet by the welcome desk in Taylor Hall in the East Building (new wing)

ADMISSION: Reservation is encouraged for this free Art Collaborative event. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability.

PARKING: Free public parking is available in the two lots on the north side of Fine Arts Drive, across from the Museum. Accessible parking is available in the public lots and the parking garage. Accessible entrances to the Museum are located at the East Building and in the garage.

WHAT IS THE ART COLLABORATIVE? An interactive, dynamic forum designed to connect art to people and people with art. Facilitated by artist Judith Shaw, this initiative aims to draw together a diverse, creative community of artists and art enthusiasts interested in sharing ideas, inspiration, resources, and information about what drives their creative passion, process, and purpose. The group meets quarterly in art venues, including artists’ studios, for hands-on, immersive experiences. Our goal is to foster cross-pollination among innovative institutions, organizations, and neighborhoods to showcase the vibrant art landscape in our region.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Art Collaborative