In and Out of Context

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (3750 Washington Boulevard; 314-535-4660 or www.camstl.org) operates within the spectrum of intriguingly beautiful or beautifully intriguing exhibitions, but its current lineup is staggering. Firstly, the eponymously titled Figure Studies: Recent Representational Works on Paper, features six artists whose work ranges from dark examinations of the body to intricately decorated mandala-like scenes. The other half of the main galleries' exhibition, Christodoulos Panayiotou: One Thousand and One Days, consists of gorgeous images of the public sphere, such as festivals, beaches and wooded areas, which are then taken out of context for a deeper examination. The adorable kid sister to the main galleries, the Front Room, hosts two films from the late Robert Breer, whose militaristic collages and crude sketches make for absurdist fascination. Explore the exhibitions tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the free opening reception. The work remains on display through Sunday, April 22 (with the exception of Breer's films, which run through Sunday, February 19), and the gallery is closed Monday.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Starts: Jan. 27. Continues through April 22, 2012