Show-Me State Times

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is set to host a major exhibition of Anselm Kiefer's work, titled "Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Ocean," in late 2025. This will be the first comprehensive survey of the German artist's work in the United States in over two decades. The exhibition will cover approximately 30,000 square feet and will be open to the public free of charge.

Min Jung Kim, the Barbara B. Taylor Director of SLAM, highlighted Kiefer's evolving artistic journey since the 1990s. She stated that this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore his development from mid-career works to his latest creations. Kim noted that this exhibition coincides with other significant displays of Kiefer’s early works at international venues such as the Ashmolean Museum and joint exhibitions by the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

The exhibit will feature several new pieces from Kiefer’s studio, including paintings of both the Mississippi and Rhine rivers. These works draw parallels between these waterways' symbolic significance and reflect on themes like time, geography, and human history. A notable piece depicting the Mississippi River references Kiefer’s visit to St. Louis in 1991.

SLAM has had a long-standing relationship with Kiefer since organizing "Expressions: New Art from Germany" in 1983, which introduced American audiences to Neo-Expressionism. Over time, SLAM has acquired several significant works by Kiefer as part of its strategy to build one of the largest collections of 20th-century German art in America.

Kiefer was born in Donaueschingen, Germany, in 1945 and is recognized for his exploration of Germany's historical legacy through various media such as painting and sculpture. His distinctive practice involves using unconventional materials like lead and ash while addressing complex themes related to civilization and cultural memory.