City Museum

Art of the Sign
2026-01-01 00:00 - 2026-09-06 23:59 (America/Chicago)
Bill Christman, founder of Beatnik Bob’s, was a close friend of Bob and Gail Cassilly and has had a lasting impression on City Museum. The area dubbed “Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem,” which includes Beatnik Bob’s, was established when City Museum opened in 1997. It has hosted a myriad of exhibits, including the now iconic giant underwear. Throughout the years, this space has had carnival-like atmosphere with live music, portraitures, psychics, a History of the Corn Dog exhibit, and mankind’s search for nougat.

Prior to his time at City Museum, Bill was the head artist of Christman Studios, where he designed and produced signs, exhibits, sculpture, and theatrical scenery. This exhibit will celebrate Bill’s sign work, highlight the uniqueness of hand-painted signs, and explore the definition of what makes a sign. In Bill’s own words, “The visitor should feel elevated upon perusing.”

Opening ReceptionFriday, June 6 from 5pm–7pmBeatnik Bob’s (3rd Floor)

Exhibit DatesFriday, June 6, 2025 – Monday, Sept. 7, 2026Beatnik Bob’s and Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem (3rd Floor)

Included with General Admission or Member Pass.

Blessed by the Ancestors
2026-01-30 00:00 - 2026-03-01 23:59
Exhibit Dates

Friday, Jan. 30 – Sunday, Mar 1, 2026

Opening Reception

Friday, Jan. 30 from 5pm–9pm

“Blessed by the Ancestors” is a captivating art exhibit that celebrates the rich artistic talent of Black artists hailing from Saint Louis, MO. This exhibition serves as a powerful testament to the cultural heritage and creative brilliance within the local Black community. Showcasing a diverse range of artistic expressions, the exhibit explores themes such as identity, heritage, resilience, and the profound connections between the artists and their ancestors.

Curated by Brock Seals, this collection includes paintings, sculptures, mixed media pieces, and other forms of visual art that reflect the unique perspectives and experiences of the featured artists. Visitors to the exhibit can expect to encounter a vibrant tapestry of storytelling through art, each piece contributing to a larger narrative that pays homage to the ancestry that has shaped and inspired the artists.

Featured Artists

Kenneth Randle

Nylus Black

Hayveyah McGowan

Matthew Fields

BriLynn Asia

Dail Chambers

ArtbySevv

Yourfavartist

Maxy Arts

314RY.

Kenneth Young

Arthur Beck III

Michaela Angelena

Alexy Irving-Alleyne

Comebacktomars

Peaceimages Jewelry

Delaine Osborne

Beatnik Bob’s on 3rd Floor. Included with General Admission or Member Pass.

Oh, look! We’re in the news!

KSDK — ‘Blessed by the Ancestors’ celebrates Black St. Louis artists at City Museum (video above)

FOX2’s Studio STL — Meet the artists: Brock Seals and Kevin Titzer at City Museum (video)

KMOV — Blessed by the Ancestors Exhibit (video)

STL TV — The Daily Mix: City Museum – Blessed by the Ancestors (video)

KMOX’s The Dave Glover Show — Local artist and designer Brock Seals (audio)

St. Louis Magazine — City Museum welcomes two new art exhibitions

St. Louis Dad — Two New Exhibits on View at City Museum

Explore St. Louis — Blessed by the Ancestors

And Who Should I Say Is Calling?
2026-01-30 00:00 - 2026-04-04 23:59
If there’s anything we have a lot of at City Museum, it’s junk. But to Indiana-based sculptor, puppet maker, and reclaimed material artist Kevin Titzer, it’s an exciting opportunity. He specializes in taking piles of what anyone else might consider trash, scavenging pieces of usable parts, and turns them into faces, figures, and other massive structures for his gallery installations.

“My approach is improvisational, using only materials gathered from the community. I arrive a few weeks in advance with nothing, collect all of the reclaimed building materials, and construct the final piece,” Titzer explains as he crisscrosses through towering storage racks of scraps and half-finished projects that occupy some of the private floors within City Museum.

“The overall design of my installations will develop during creation, and they depend on what materials or resources are available. I’ve learned to stay open to new directions and utilize the unexpected,” he continues. “For my project at City Museum I’ll be creating an installation utilizing only things found in the building. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to dig through the Museums’ extensive collection of reclaimed materials and objects.”

So what is he building out of all those old brooms and ladders in Skateless Park? We won’t know until it’s done! Even Titzer doesn’t know yet. He says, “The only thing I can tell you is that it will have a face,” and that he often incorporates a narrative into each exhibit, allowing viewers to discover their own interpretations.

Join us for the unveiling of “And Who Should I Say Is Calling?” and meet artist Kevin Titzer at the Opening Reception on Friday, January 30 from 5pm–9pm. If you want to come back for a closer look, the installation will be in the northwest corner of Skateless Park through Saturday, April 4.

Exhibit DatesFriday, Jan. 30 – Saturday, April 4, 2026

Opening ReceptionFriday, Jan. 30 from 5pm–9pm

Skateless Park on 3rd Floor. Included with General Admission or Member Pass.

Oh, look! We’re in the news!

STL TV — The Daily Mix: City Museum – And Who Should I Say Is Calling? (video)

FOX2’s Studio STL — Meet the artists: Brock Seals and Kevin Titzer at City Museum (video)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Objects from St. Louis’ City Museum find their way to new sculpture there

St. Louis Magazine — City Museum welcomes two new art exhibitions

St. Louis Dad — Two New Exhibits on View at City Museum
