Emily Rauh Pulitzer Curates 25th Anniversary Exhibition at Pulitzer Arts Foundation

Emily Rauh Pulitzer, founder of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, has curated "Dialogues & Conversations," an exhibition marking the institution's 25th anniversary. The show opened in March and runs through August 9, featuring approximately 85 works. At 92, Pulitzer remains actively involved, recently overseeing the installation of Richard Serra's "Joplin" (1971), a large rusted steel sculpture not displayed for 18 years. The exhibition includes pieces by artists with whom Pulitzer developed close friendships, such as Serra and Ellsworth Kelly, alongside works by Henri Matisse, Constantin Brancusi, and Edgar Degas. The Pulitzer Arts Foundation building in St. Louis, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, was his first completed work in the United States. Pulitzer personally selected Serra's "Joplin" as the first piece for the exhibition, expressing joy during its recent unveiling. She engaged warmly with installation crews while ensuring precise placement of artworks. The foundation serves as a significant cultural institution in the Midwest, with Pulitzer often described as a modest Medici figure for her philanthropic support of the arts.