Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is Missouri's first and largest museum dedicated entirely to contemporary art. The avant-garde reinforced concrete and glass building, designed by architect Gunnar Birkerts, is a work of art in itself.
It houses over 1,400 top-tier works from the early 20th century to the present. The exhibition space is compact, easily explored in one to two hours. Here are some must-see highlights:
1. Plaza Landmark: Louise Bourgeois's Giant Spider, *Spider IV* The open-air plaza outside the museum's main entrance features one of the legendary female sculptor Louise Bourgeois's most iconic bronze sculptures from her "Spider" series. The enormous spider legs, seemingly terrifying yet imbued with maternal protection, make it a must-take photo for every visitor to Kemper.
2. Atrium Masterpiece: A Visual Dialogue with Modern Art Masters The centrally lit Atrium. Kemper's permanent collection is stellar. In addition to regularly rotating exhibitions of works by master artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, and Pop Art master Wayne Thiebaud, the atrium frequently hosts large-scale avant-garde murals or spatial installations by contemporary pioneering artists (Atrium Project).
3. A legendary restaurant surrounded by art: Café Sebastienne / Oil on Linen, located within the museum. Once named one of the "Best Restaurants in America" by the Zagat Guide, its interior space is a stunning work of art in itself. The four walls are covered "like tablecloths" with over 110 vibrant and uniquely styled oil paintings by artist Frederick J. Brown. Even if you don't dine here, I highly recommend taking a stroll inside and experiencing the magical atmosphere where contemporary cuisine and contemporary visual art are perfectly blended.
