Top Upcoming Art Exhibits In St. Louis

True St. Louis art lovers are perpetually scanning for info on the latest upcoming exhibits. Each season brings a variety of fresh and exciting opportunities to immerse one's self in the art world. Whether you enjoy strolling the galleries in the Art Museum or celebrating the arts at an outdoor festival, St. Louis is rich with creativity and talent, and it should be enjoyed by you.

St. Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Drive
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 721-0072
www.slam.org

When art lovers seek to feed their souls with great visual works, the St. Louis Art Museum always delivers. Late summer and early fall bring a multitude of great exhibits that will bring you back to the Art Museum again and again.

"Facets Of Three Jewels: The Tibetan Buddhist Art From The Collections Of George E. Hibbard And The St. Louis Art Museum"
Date: Through Feb. 22, 2015

This exhibit began in mid summer and will run through February of the new year, so art lovers will have plenty of time to enjoy this exotic and marvelous collection. "Facets of Three Jewels" portrays the three foundational principals of Buddhism through paintings, bronzes and ritual objects. Some highlights you will see from these works are beautiful banner paintings, known as Thangkas, illustrating the previous lives of Buddha. A wide range of styles, representing Nepal, Tibet and China, are presented in sculpture, paintings and textiles. Many of these great pieces come from the collection of George E. Hibbard.

"New Media Series – Janaina Tschape: The Ocean Within"
Through Oct. 19, 2014

Landscapes and seascapes have never taken this particular perspective before. Janaina Tschape, a German/Brazilian artist, explores this subject through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and video in ways that will intrigue your senses. This collection expresses how Tschape views the passage of time through the evolving land and seascapes. Come to the St. Louis Art Museum and celebrate this acclaimed artist and her work through October 19.

"Brett Weston: Photographs"
Date: Through Dec. 7, 2014 

A great American photographer leaves us a body of work that has been described as lyrical and sensuous. His study of light and shadow, large format negatives and high contrast prints will be highlighted in an exhibit that began in mid June and runs through December 7, 2014. This exhibit spans the last three decades of Weston's career, with subjects both natural landscape and man-made artifacts, reflecting his unique vision.

Related: Top St. Louis Businesses With Art Galleries

Historic Shaw Art Fair
4100 and 4200 Flora Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 773-3101
www.shawartfair.org

Date: Oct. 4-5, 2014

St. Louisans love art and they love festivals that celebrate art. Each year, the place to find both is a cherished tradition in the city. The Historic Shaw Art Fair highlights the beautiful works from artists around the country in a juried art fair in the heart of the city. Past attendees have been delighted by sculpture, painting, textiles, photography and more. Plan to enjoy the day, or weekend, causally strolling through exhibits by more than 135 artists exhibiting delightfully vast and varied works. The exhibits open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Closing time is 5 p.m. on both days. Admission is $7 per person and children under 14 are admitted for free with a paid adult admission.

St. Louis Art Fair
Downtown
Clayton, MO
(314) 863-0278
www.culturalfestivals.com

Date: Sept. 5-7, 2014

The St. Louis Art Fair is the art lover's event of the year. Over the weekend of September 5, 2014, the streets of Clayton transform into a mega center for visual and performing arts, of all kinds, and art lovers descend upon the festival to partake in its appreciation for three days. In addition to the juried exhibits, there are hands-on activities for the kids and a respectable sampling of the culinary arts as well. The list of artists participating in the festival is vast and diverse in medium, so there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Admission to the festival is free of charge, so make plans to spend at least part of the first full weekend of September in Clayton.

Related: Top Up-And-Coming Visual Artists In St. Louis

Lisa Payne-Naeger, a native of the St. Louis area, is a freelance writer, blogger, political activist and a homeschooling mother of two children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.