In the early 1990s, back when the Museum was known as the Forum for Contemporary Art, a few teens from the neighborhood were visiting after school and were intrigued by the art they saw in the galleries. This spark soon led to a new program, New Art in the Neighborhood (NAN), which set CAM on a path of engaging young people in the art of today. Since then, CAM has remained committed to being responsive to the needs of young people and has grown its offerings—creating countless opportunities to forge relationships with students in our immediate surroundings. Through this program and others, hundreds of young artists in St. Louis have learned about the possibilities of art and the ways that it can inform how we express ourselves.

We Find Ourselves celebrates over thirty years of young people in our city having access to the art and artists of our time. From examples of public art created by teens in the early days of NAN to the most recent artworks made through the ArtReach Partnership at Sumner and Vashon High Schools, this exhibition highlights the fruits of two of CAM’s signature art education programs. The selection of stories, photos, and works of art demonstrates the importance of staying rooted in place and community in order to provide young people with the support to push creative boundaries. This exhibition emphasizes the crucial role that art plays in youth development just as much as the evolution of the Museum finding itself in the neighborhood and city around it.

We Find Ourselves: 30 Years of Teens Making Art is organized for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis by Miriam Ruiz, Education Manager.