About

Counterpublic is a triennial exhibition reimagining the possibilities of art in public life. Located in St. Louis, Counterpublic connects art with lasting impact by bringing together bold ideas with the region’s most pressing challenges. As one of the largest public art exhibitions in the nation, Counterpublic celebrates and spotlights the St. Louis region as an epicenter of art and culture through ongoing partnerships and artistic programming. The focal point is a three-month, citywide exhibition with dozens of the world’s leading artists.

Working in public places, cultural institutions, historic houses, and community gathering spaces, Counterpublic commissions artists, and cultural leaders, and civic stakeholders to make and present artworks and ideas that engage history and imagine new futures. In addition to presenting artworks, programs, and publishing, Counterpublic rethinks the model for art exhibitions, supporting civic initiatives that extend beyond the exhibition. Guided by community engagement, each three-year cycle focuses on a new set of dynamic sites and questions, remaining responsive to the moment and aligning with the most impactful opportunities in the region to cultivate generational change.

Counterpublic is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2021.

Counterpublic was founded in 2021 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by James McAnally, Executive and Artistic Director, and Lee Broughton, President, along with a founding board of directors. Before its incorporation, Counterpublic was a project of The Luminary, a St. Louis arts organization. The Luminary’s 2015 and 2019 exhibitions entitled “Counterpublic” were organized along Cherokee Street. The shared ethos of the original exhibition and now independent organization is centered on the belief that art should be an everyday, accessible part of life.

The name “Counterpublic” comes from a sociology term where communities or “publics” are brought together through shared interests, identity, geography, language, and more, with a purpose to reclaim representation in public space.

Counterpublic’s offices are located in a historic home in the Grand Center Arts District. The house serves as staff offices and hosts periodic gatherings and events, acting as a physical presence in the community outside of the exhibition.

Lee Broughton, St. Louis CITY SC, Chief Brand Architect

Cara Starke, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Executive Director

Lyah Leflore-Ituen, Award-winning writer and filmmaker

Dan Wessel, Enterprise Holdings, Global Business Management

Marcela Manjarrez, M Strategic Communications, CEO

Each three-year exhibition cycle focuses on a new set of dynamic ideas and questions that remain responsive to the moment and align with the most impactful opportunities in the St. Louis region. The cyclical process of selecting exhibition curators, locations, focus topics, key initiatives and partners is guided by intentional engagement. Ongoing community conversations and evolving partnerships serve as the foundation for exhibition-making, guiding Counterpublic in building a future rooted in collaboration, resilience, and transformation.

Activating visions for St. Louis, we reimagine the role of art in shaping the future of the region. We create networks of possibility by inviting communities, organizational partners, and artists to imagine the future together.

1. We listen and learn from the stories of people in communities across the city.
2. We gather residents, artists, and leaders to bridge relationships, imagine and collaborate toward solutions, and steward resources.
3. We lead by leveraging our connections, investing in communities, and activating change through the exhibition and related civic initiatives.

Year 1

1. Conduct community conversations
2. Connect with partners + collaborators
3. Research civic initiatives
4. Identify exhibition locations
5. Select exhibition curators

Year 2

1. Publish community input report
2. Set exhibition theme + direction
3. Deepen responsive research
4. Begin meeting with artists
5. Research and plan exhibition locations
6. Select artists and partners

Year 3

1. Create and install artworks
2. Initiate exhibition programming
3. Open exhibition
4. Receive community input
5. Publish exhibition evaluation report
6. Continue community engagement for future editions