Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Missouri
CAM, short for Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, shows art made by living and recent artists in St. Louis, MO. It has no permanent collection, so every visit brings something new, with about six main exhibitions a year. The museum traces its start to 1980 and has been in a Brad Cloepfil building in midtown's Grand Center arts district since 2003. It sits about 1.8 miles off the old road.
What is Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis?
CAM is a non-collecting museum. Instead of building a collection, it presents temporary shows, and nothing hangs permanently. It usually mounts six exhibitions a year in its Main Gallery, featuring American and international artists.
Over the years it has staged more than 120 shows and presented more than 260 artists. The roster includes names many visitors will know, such as Cindy Sherman, Amy Sherald, Marilyn Minter, Jim Hodges and Richard Artschwager.
History of Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
The organization got going in 1980 and went through a few names at first, among them First Street Forum and, later, Forum for Contemporary Art. It moved on September 19, 2003, into its present home, a building by American architect Brad Cloepfil in the Grand Center area of midtown St. Louis.
Visiting Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: tips
An hour is usually enough to see the galleries. Restrooms and parking are on site, and the museum reports wheelchair access and a welcome for kids. Check what is showing, since the whole museum changes with each exhibition.
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts stands right next door, so plan to see both. The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, about 1.1 miles away, adds a dose of music history. Skip the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art nearby; it closed in 2026.
Because CAM keeps no permanent collection, two visits a few months apart can feel like two different museums, which makes it a good repeat stop for anyone who passes through St. Louis more than once.
Practical info
- Address
- 3750 Washington Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108
- Phone
- +1 314-535-4660
- Website
- camstl.org
- Hours
- Wed, Sat 10–5 · Thu, Fri 10 am–8 pm
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapContemporary Art Museum St. Louis with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
All of Missouri
0.0 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
0.3 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
1.1 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
1.4 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
1.6 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
1.9 mi from Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Questions about Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Does CAM St. Louis have a permanent collection?
No. It is a non-collecting museum, so all its exhibitions are temporary and change through the year.
When did CAM move to its current building?
On September 19, 2003, into a building by architect Brad Cloepfil in the Grand Center district.
Own or run Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis? Send us a photo or a correction.