Monaco To Close Its Doors Permanently

Monaco To Close Its Doors Permanently

7.17.2024

Cole Lu’s solo exhibition at Monaco, Animal Fancy. 2018.

Contingency, curated by Meghan Grubb and Jessica Lynn Hunt, in Monaco’s project space. 2020.

Bidding Farewell to Monaco, With Gratitude

After nearly seven years of continuous arts programming, the artist-run collective Monaco has decided to close its doors permanently.

Founded in 2017 by fourteen visionary artists– Amanda Bowles, Bruce Burton, Sage Dawson, Kristin Fleischmann Brewer, José Garza, Meghan Grubb, Lyndon Barrois Jr., Addoley Dzegede, Allison Lacher, Gregg Louis, Cole Lu, Tim Portlock, Brea Youngblood, and James McAnally–  Monaco was born from a spirit of radical collaboration and self-determination.

Operating on principles of an imagined “sovereign-state”, Monaco’s gallery, which existed out of The Luminary’s corner storefront space, exemplified practices that enabled artists to define their own market on their own terms; exhibiting artists took home larger portions of sales proceeds, expenses were spread out evenly across the collective, and several shows were exchanged between other small commercial galleries from around the country. Over the years, it has played a vital role in elevating emerging artists inside and outside of St. Louis, providing a platform for contemporary art the intersection of cultural exploration and market engagement.

Over its lifespan, Monaco hosted 74 exhibitions featuring 138 artists; with 25 artists shaping its programming as members, each bringing their unique perspectives and building on the contributions of their predecessors.

The decision to close Monaco was influenced by a combination of factors, including economic challenges exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic and shifting dynamics in the art market. Despite this closure, we remain optimistic about the future of artistic spaces in St. Louis and beyond.

This ending marks an important moment of reflection and renewal, where new forms and opportunities might emerge, if we are reminded of what we are here to do. It is up to us to define our arts community, to continue to find creative solutions for sharing art and building our own economies, despite hostile market conditions and scarcer fundraising landscapes for the arts in our region. We encourage our community to continue creating critical, contemporary spaces that challenge and inspire.

The current members of Monaco extend their deepest gratitude to the artists, patrons, and supporters who have been part of its journey. Their contributions have shaped Monaco's legacy and will continue to influence the artistic landscape of St. Louis and beyond. Read their letter here.

Monaco’s final exhibitions, Every Shiny Thing and wintermelonlemonjuice will remain on view by appointment through July 26th. Join the members for a public closing “celebration of life” on the 20th, from 6 pm to 9 pm.