MOCRA to Close in May 2026; SLU to Preserve Collection and Honor Its Legacy
As part of ongoing efforts to align resources with strategic priorities and ensure Saint Louis University’s long-term financial sustainability, the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) will close in May 2026, at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.
The University will take several steps to further MOCRA's mission, including carefully preserving its permanent collection and incorporating selected works into exhibitions at the SLU Museum of Art (SLUMA). MOCRA’s dedicated team will remain part of the University Libraries and Museums staff, ensuring their continued contribution to arts and culture at SLU.
Founded in 1993 by Terrence Dempsey, S.J., MOCRA is the first museum in the world dedicated to exploring the religious and spiritual dimensions of contemporary art. From its very first exhibition, MOCRA established a reputation for presenting compelling work from both established and emerging artists who represent a diverse range of viewpoints, expressions and media.
Over the years, MOCRA has displayed the works of more than 230 artists, and its well-regarded permanent collection includes pieces by Seyed Alavi, Romare Bearden, Lore Bert, Dawoud Bey, Frederick J. Brown, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Michael David, Eleanor Dickinson, Juan González, Luis González-Palma, Patrick Graham, Tobi Kahn, Adrian Kellard, Jim Morphesis, Dan Ramirez, James Rosen, Susan Schwalb, Shahzia Sikander, Thomas Skomski, and Michael Tracy.
“We recognize that the difficult decision to close MOCRA next year will bring a range of emotions for many in our community who have been moved and inspired by its exhibitions, collections and educational programs and the conversations they sparked,” said Jennifer Nutefall, MLS, dean of University Libraries and Museums.
“As we move forward, we remain committed to creating new and meaningful opportunities for the SLU community and wider public to explore the intersection of contemporary art, religion, and spirituality at Saint Louis University,” Nutefall continued.
During the next 14 months, MOCRA will continue to present thought-provoking programming that reflects its mission to foster dialogue on faith, culture and contemporary art. The University plans to work closely with key campus and community stakeholders to explore ways to celebrate MOCRA’s history and honor the legacy of its visionary founder.
MOCRA’s current exhibit, “Continuum (Continued): Figuration and Abstraction in the MOCRA Collection,” is scheduled to run through May 15. The exhibition of works from the MOCRA collection highlights two general approaches employed by artists to express the religious and spiritual dimensions while recognizing that by blurring boundaries, artists invite us to encounter the transcendent along a spectrum of interpretation. The next exhibition is "To See This Place: Awakening to Our Common Home," which is currently on display at Fairfield University Museum of Art in Connecticut and will open at MOCRA in early September.
On Saturday, May 3, MOCRA will host a public conversation called, “Meditations: Black Expression, Creativity, and the Spirit — Live!” This in-person version of a series that began as Zoom conversations during the pandemic will feature artists, curators and scholars from St. Louis and across the country.