New St. Louis Art Museum exhibition shows ‘hip-hop culture is more than music’

“The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century,” an exhibition that debuted at the Baltimore Museum of Art, is on view Aug. 19-Jan. 1. This is the first collaboration between the two institutions.

Andréa Purnell, SLAM’s audience development manager and a co-curator of “The Culture,” wants to make sure patrons know what they’re walking into.

“The exhibition is not a full survey of hip-hop,” she says. “I don’t want people to think it’s about how hip-hop began 50 years ago, where it is now and everything in between. What it is is a reflection of how hip-hop has influenced contemporary art. That’s a big difference.”

There are pieces by more than 90 artists in the exhibition. Most of the works have never been featured in a museum setting, and some have never been seen in St. Louis.

“Some of it is abstract; there’s sculptures, ceramics, paintings, graffiti,” Purnell says. “And not all of it is about an exact hip-hip artist. I can also promise you will see things you probably didn’t think you would see — make connections you didn’t realize.”

There are works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Mark Bradford, along with artists represented in the SLAM collection, such as Julie Mehretu and Carrie Mae Weems.

Other artists include Nina Chanel Abney, Derrick Adams, Jordan Casteel, Kudzanai Chiurai, William Cordova, Hassan Hajjaj, Lauren Halsey, Arthur Jafa, Deana Lawson and Hank Willis Thomas.

The influence of hip-hop on fashion is explored through designer Virgil Abloh’s collections for Louis Vuitton and by brands such as Cross Colours.

“If you like hip-hop, if you like visual art, if you like fashion, or none of them, there’s still at least three things you will take away with you,” Purnell says. “Hip-hop culture is more than music, so seeing yourself in this exhibition, whether you’re a hip-hop lover or not, is possible.”

One-third of the artists represented are from or have ties to St. Louis or Baltimore.

St. Louis artist Aaron Fowler’s piece in the museum’s Sculpture Hall depicts an oversized pair of Nike Air Force Ones made from car parts. It’s an obvious nod to St. Louis rapper Nelly, who scaled the charts with his song “Air Force Ones.” Visitors can scan a QR code to hear the song.

“You’re seeing him without seeing him in the Air Force Ones sculpture because of his connection to the song,” Purnell says. “Artists show up even when they aren’t there.”

“A Great Day in St. Louis,” a photograph by Adrian Octavius Walker, features more than 100 St. Louis-area rappers, DJs, producers and other artists who posed in October for a photo on Art Hill.

The image pays homage to Gordon Parks’ legendary 1998 photo “A Great Day in Hip-Hop,” itself an homage to Art Kane’s 1958 photo “A Great Day in Harlem.”

“Hats off to Adrian for the artistic liberties he took,” Purnell says, noting how his image differs from those that inspired it. “It’s not in front of a brownstone. It’s not in black and white. He chose color. He wanted to show St. Louis on a bright day. It’s a new moment — the tomorrow. Yes, we’ve got our challenges, but it’s a new day.”

The “Garage Lab” by Gary Simmons is meant to evoke a garage rehearsal space and functions as a performance space throughout the exhibition for musicians, DJs, spoken word and dance acts. Videos of past performances will be shown on a loop.

“The Culture” is broken into six themed sections exploring various elements of hip-hop: Language, Brand, Adornment, Tribute, Ascension and Pose.

Work on the exhibition started in 2021 when the Baltimore museum approached SLAM with a big idea. A global advisory group helped the curators decide what should be included.

In addition to Purnell, “The Culture” is curated by Hannah Klemm, SLAM’s former associate curator of modern and contemporary art; Asma Naeem, director of the BMA; and Gamynne Guillotte, BMA’s former chief education officer; with Rikki Byrd, BMA’s curatorial research fellow; and Carlyn Thomas, BMA’s curatorial assistant.

The collaboration with BMA was an ongoing process, Purnell says. “We were finding glimmers of ways in which we were wanting to express this narrative,” she says. “Because hip-hip moves so quickly, it was forever changing.

“There are more stories, more artists, enough stuff on the cutting room floor for a whole other show.”

What “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century” • When Aug. 19-Jan. 1; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday (closed Monday) • Where St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park • How much $10-$12, $6 for children 6-12, free for ages 5 and under and for members • More info slam.org