BEGIN AGAIN: ANNIVERSARY SERIES
Laumeier’s Begin Again curatorial series honors the Park’s 50-year history of collaborating with artists and supporting commissions and exhibitions.
At the heart of the series is Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting, an exhibition that explores five decades of temporary and ephemeral commissions and exhibitions that are no longer on view at the Park, along with three new outdoor commissions by Juan William Chávez, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and Alison Saar. Each artist has a history of creating work with Laumeier and has been invited to revisit a past project created for the Park that has since been decommissioned or no longer exists. The resulting commissions may take the form of a reinterpretation, a rebuild, or a new work inspired by the original.
The theme for Begin Again emerged as our curator Dana Turkovic reviewed the Park’s 50 years of exhibitions and commissions, serving as a reminder of the many fascinating works throughout Laumeier’s history that were temporary, ephemeral, and no longer on view. The initiative also provides an opportunity to reflect Laumeier’s continued commitment to expanding representation and supporting the work of women and artists of color as part of the Park’s future.
“This reflection led to a desire to bring some of these projects back to life.” said Turkovic. “Conceptually, Begin Again explores the ephemerality of sculpture, despite its traditional associations with permanence and heavy physical presence.”
Artist Ursula von Rydingsvard pictured with Untitled, 1989. Color photograph. Laumeier Sculpture Park Photo Archive.
Alison Saar, Leelinau, 1997. Color photograph. Laumeier Sculpture Park Photo Archive.
Juan William Chávez, Untitled: Sacred Real Estate, 2012. Color photograph. Laumeier Sculpture Park Photo Archive.
Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting, 2026. Color photograph by Wil Driscoll.
CURRENTLY ON VIEW
Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting | February 7 – December 13, 2026 | Aronson Fine Arts Center. Photo by Wil Driscoll.
Begin Again: Juan William Chávez & Kiersten Torrez, Wak’a Garden | April 18, 2026 – April 15, 202 | Outdoor Galleries: South Lawn. Photo by Wil Driscoll.
COMING SOON
Begin Again: Ursula von Rydingsvard, Untitled, 2026
Begin Again: Alison Saar, Honey Chile, 2026
2026 Exhibitions are supported by Whitaker Foundation, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Joan and Mitchell Markow and Two Sister’s Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, and Mary Ann and Andy Srenco.
Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting is supported by Terra Foundation for American Art and Henry Luce Foundation.
Begin Again: Juan William Chávez & Kiersten Torrez, Wak’a Garden is supported by PNC Foundation. Juan William Chávez and the Visiting Artist in Residence Program are supported by Windgate Foundation. The Visiting Artist in Residence Program is sponsored by 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis.
Kiersten Torrez is the 2026 Kranzberg Artist. This fund, generously provided by Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, supports the presentation of new work by one or more St. Louis area artists per year.
Begin Again: Ursula von Rydingsvard, Untitled and Begin Again: Alison Saar, Honey Chile is supported by PNC Foundation.
