When you visit Washington University in St. Louis, you can explore the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1881, this historic institution is situated within the university's Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. You will be greeted by a striking 34-foot-tall pleated stainless-steel facade, part of a building designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Fumihiko Maki.
Inside, you can wander through expansive public display spaces—including the Barney A. Ebsworth Gallery, Garen Gallery, Bernoudy Permanent Collection Gallery, and a dedicated teaching gallery. The museum's rich collection features 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century European and American paintings, sculptures, prints, installations, and photographs. You can view pieces by iconic artists like William Merritt Chase, Frederic Edwin Church, Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jenny Holzer, along with Cubist, Expressionist, and Surrealist masterworks.
Don't miss the Egyptian and Greek antiquities, Old Master prints, or a relaxing stroll through the Florence Steinberg-Weil Sculpture Garden, located just north of Anabeth and John Weil Hall. It offers a premier cultural experience on campus.
What to see at Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
- Oldest art museum west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1881
- Striking modern building featuring a 34-foot-tall stainless-steel facade designed by Fumihiko Maki
- Rich collection of European and American art, including Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism
- Masterworks by Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Paul Klee, and Frederic Edwin Church
- Outdoor artwork displays within the relocated Florence Steinberg-Weil Sculpture Garden
Visiting tips
Be sure to head to the top floor and outdoor sculpture garden to experience the museum's primary permanent collection displays.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum is easy to reach on St. Louis’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Cahokia and Gateway Arch. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our St. Louis travel guide.
See the full St. Louis travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.