The St. Louis Art Museum - Free Fun in Forest Park

Located in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri, the St. Louis Art Museum is one of two FREE museums in Forest Park, and that includes free parking. Forest Park is west of downtown St. Louis and houses other free outings such as the St. Louis Zoo, the Planetarium and the Missouri History Museum.

The St. Louis Art Museum hosts a wide range of art, prints and photographs from a myriad of cultures. The African Art collection includes works from sub-Saharan West Africa and Central, Southeast and Eastern Africa. Sculptures by the Fang, Yoruba, Bankoi, Kuba and other peoples are on display. Featured are Akan gold weights, brass and bronze body ornaments and Zulu beadwork.

The American Art collection features paintings and sculpture from Colonial portraits through modernist and abstract art of the early 20th century. Landscapes are of particular interest, with works by Jasper Cropsey, Thomas Cole and John Frederick Kensett. Missouri artists are also represented by Henry Lewis, Charles Ferdinand Wimar and George Caleb Bingham. Bingham's Election Series, illustrating the Missouri electoral process, is highlighted here. Nineteenth and early 20th century works by Winslow Homer, William Merritt Chase, Ossawa Tanner, Georgia O'Keeffe, Thomas Hart Benton and Philip Guston are displayed.

Ancient and Islamic Art includes Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek and Roman works. The highlight of the Egyptian collection is the mummy Amen-Nestawy-Nakht. Stone reliefs from Assyria and Persia are featured in the Near Eastern collection. Byzantine works are featured in the Mediterranean Region Collection, as well as Mycenean, Etruscan, Roman and Greek works.

The Asian Art collection is one of my favorite. China is well represented with screens, prints, textiles, calligraphy and sculpture. I was most impressed with the screens collection, as you are only a foot or less away from the pieces and get an up-close look at the intricacies of the silkwork.

The Contemporary Art collection is by far and away where I spend most of my time whenever I visit the museum. The third floor is dominated by the works of Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol and Glenn Ligon. Sharing space with the Contemporary artists are the Modern artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Paul Klee, Picasso, Matisse, and features the largest public collection of paintings by Max Beckmann in the world. Personally, I enjoy Gauguin, van Gogh, Monet and Cézanne.

If your interest is in decorative arts and design, the lower level is the place to go. Suits of armor, European and American furniture, ceramics, glass and textiles lay around every corner - and you will turn a lot of corners, as this is the most sectioned-off collection in the museum. If you go down the correct staircase, your first display is of a suit of armor inside a glass case in the middle of the room.

The Pre-Columbian and American Indian Art is another favorite of mine. Central and South American works in stone, wood, ceramic and gold are displayed. Anasazi and Pueblo tribes have extensive pottery and weavings. Contemporary works are also on display by such artists as Edgar Heap of Birds and Tony Hunt.

The Department of Prints, Drawings and Photographs is internationally known for its German works on paper. Because of the light sensitivity, this collection is rotated for the viewing public frequently, so repeated visits may allow you to view different pieces on display.

The European Art collection contains some triptychs, but from what I've seen is dominated by the brightly-colored oil paintings of Neo-Classical, French and German Romanesque and Romantic eras. Reliefs, sculptures and metal works are interspersed throughout this section and plenty of cushioned benches allow for prolonged study of the piece of your choice.

Hundreds of oil paintings, European Art, Oceanic and other works are on display. Because of the sensitivity of the works, the temperature is cool inside, so even on a typical St. Louis summer day (muggy and warm), inside is nice and cool. You can spend all day wandering the collections or take an hour or two at your favorite exhibit. Cushioned benches are available in some of the rooms, mostly the ones that contain the larger paintings such as Water Lilies.

You may even browse the St. Louis Art Museum collections online.

Admission: Free for regular exhibits. Admission to featured exhibitions varies, but is free to all on Fridays.

Parking: Free

Restaurant: The Cafe.

Gift Shop: Replicas of the famous works of art (Water Lilies, Starry Night) that on display as well as educational toys and games, greeting cards and more. You may order online as well.

Hours: Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, open 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Friday 10:00 am until 9:00 pm.

Accessibility: Wheelchairs and strollers are available free of charge. Elevators access all levels of the museum, and ALDs are available for all public programs. Sign Language Interpreters are available with 4 weeks advance notice. Contact 314-655-5248 or 314-721-4807 (TDD) for more information.

Tours: Free. Tuesday through Friday at 10:30 am, and weekends at 1:30 pm. Tours last approximately one hour. Group tours are available with 4 weeks advance notice.

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