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Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA)

Explore Virtual Exhibitions at SLUMA


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.

Opening Reception: The Past Beneath Our Feet

5-8 p.m., Friday, November 15, 2024

The event is free and open to the public.

About the Exhibition

History permeates every corner of our world, often concealed within the layers of soil beneath our feet. As archaelogical endeavors persistently excavate and scrutinize these concealed depths, novel discoveries continously reshape and refine our comprehension of the past.

The pervasive nature of history asserts its presence in numerous forms, from minute artifacts to expansive ruins, each bearing witness to bygone eras. Through meticulous excavation and rigorous analysis, archaeologists unearth artifacts that serve as portals to the past, elucidating cultural practices, societal structures, and technological advancements that otherwise would be lost.

"The Past Beneath Our Feet" presents the findings of Thomas Finan, Ph.D.,'s two decades of exploration in Ireland. SLUMA invites you to discover these artifacts for yourself and ignite your curiosity about the world that came before us.

About Thomas Finan, Ph.D.

The research of Thomas Finan, Ph.D., thoroughly explores the rich tapestry of medieval Ireland, focusing particularly on the history and archaeology of the later medieval period. His primary area of interest is the borderlands of the Shannon River in Roscommon during the 13th and 14th centuries. As the director of the North Roscommon Archaeological Projects, he leads extensive surveys and excavations within the medieval lordship of Moylurg. This project aims to uncover and understand the complex social, economic and political dynamics of this historically significant region.

Opening Reception: Renaissance Man: Paintings by the Honorable Nathan B. Young Jr.

5-8 p.m., Friday, November 15, 2024

This event is free and open to the public.

About the Exhibition

A man of diverse talents and ambitions, Nathan B. Young Jr. served the city of St. Louis as a lawyer, judge, historian and journalist while pursuing his creative passions as a novelist, musician and artist. After more than 30 years of practicing law in St. Louis, Young served as the assitant city counselor until 1965, when he was appointed judge of Municipal Court No. 2, the first African American to serve in the position in St. Louis.

Before his death in 1993, the Saint Louis University Archives began working with Young and his family to preserve his vast archive of personal effects. Among his collections were over 500 acrylic-on-canvas paintings executed over a 20-year period between the mid-1960s and mid-1980s. A self-taught artist, Young's paintings reveal that he was well-versed in the history of art, particularly in the major European and American works depicting people of African descent, as well as images related to the American anti-slavery and Civil Rights movements. "Renaissance Man," curated by the participants in the art history course, ARTH 4900: Research Methods, presents a selection of works that demonstrate Young's complex and multidimensional engagement with racial themes through the lens of art history.

Nationally Recognized

The Saint Louis University Museum of Art is recognized as one of the best University Art Museums in America by the , and others, gaining praise for a collection that contains works by Kiki Smith, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg.

College Rank slotted SLUMA number four in its list of the top 50 most amazing college museums, calling it “impressive and historic.” The museum has also been lauded by and in recent years.