Counterpublic

Introducing our Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts Fellow, Brittni Mosby! ?? Brittni is a St. Louis-based artist. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts, with a focus on Drawing, from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. Currently, Brittni is a candidate for her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to her academic pursuits, Brittni is an active member of Friends for Good, a collective dedicated to creating large-scale collaborative projects that highlight organizations making a positive impact on people and the planet. As she explores the intersection of public engagement and art, she hopes to contribute to conversations about identity and belonging, inviting viewers to engage in a shared exploration of the complexities of life. Join us in welcoming Brittni to the Counterpublic team! ?? #counterpublic #counterpublic2026

We can’t wait to see you at February’s Artist Connect Night! Artists of all mediums are invited to join us at City Foundry for an artist-focused networking night, with presentations from our team and more. Deputy Director Kristin Fleischmann Brewer and Assistant Curator Charlie Farrell will discuss the St. Louis Artist Database and the curatorial process, announce upcoming events, and answer any questions about Counterpublic. Our Engagement Team will highlight the forthcoming Community Report. We will also learn about a new artist initiative by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Location: Regional Arts Commission at City Foundry STL 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 149, St. Louis MO 63110 Register for the event + submit your questions through the link below! Light snacks and beverages will be provided. There is limited space and registration is not required but greatly encouraged! https://lnkd.in/gX_7ix8Y Agenda 6:00 PM Socialize + Icebreakers 6:45 PM Presentations 7:05 PM Q&A 7:20 PM Conversation Starters Reviewing Artist Submissions to the St. Louis Artist Database through February: The 2026 curatorial ensemble will be reviewing submissions through February 2025. Submissions after March 1 will remain open for general ongoing reference.

Become part of Counterpublic’s impact. This intentional, generational work is the work of the future. It is the work of all of us who consider ourselves part of the expansive vision of Counterpublic. We invite you to help steward this work of the future by supporting our efforts. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our vision is only possible with your generosity. You can support Counterpublic through a one-time donation or recurring donations of any amount. Visit the link below to view contribution options. https://lnkd.in/gYF4qJTP During 2024, we have: ? Launched the first St. Louis Artist Database with over 350 artists in the region ? Stewarded the land transfer of Sugarloaf Mound to the Osage Nation. ? Brought together artists and creative leaders in St. Louis through Counterpublic events. ? Engaged thousands of St. Louisans through partnerships with Queertown Underground, the Juneteenth 'FREE DOME' Celebration, Oak Street Health’s Block Parties, Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Pride, the International Institute of St. Louis’ Community Bazaar, Paint Louis, and more events in the community. ? Appointed the 2026 Edition’s Curatorial Ensemble. Your contributions will support our work in 2025 as we: ? Host more programs and events that create resources, community, joy, and opportunities. ? Publish our 2024 Community Report ? Initiate a new globally focused gathering (more news coming soon…) ? Connect with artists in St. Louis and around the world for Counterpublic 2026 As we ring in the New Year, we want to express our gratitude for your participation, your contributions, and for being a part of the Counterpublic process! Pictured: The 2026 Edition Curatorial Ensemble during yesterday’s site visit. #Counterpublic #Counterpublic2026 #Triennial #StLouis #STL #SupportSTL

Counterpublic has had a tremendous 2024, but the work is only just beginning! 2025 will be another period of significant progress and growth, and we encourage you to become a part of it. Our team has expanded, grown more in tune with St. Louisans and their hopes and dreams, and participated in meaningful spaces and events around the city with people and organizations we care about. From the artist and community meet-ups, to our 2026 curatorial ensemble joining Counterpublic, to the historic land transfer of Sugarloaf Mound to the Osage Nation – 2024 has been filled with major achievements and thoughtful conversation. Counterpublic connects art with lasting impact, bringing together these kinds of catalytic ideas with the most pressing challenges of our time while working across civic, community and cultural partners at all scales to build up an ecosystem of collaboration and change. This intentional, generational work is the work of the future. It is the work of all of us who consider ourselves part of the expansive vision of Counterpublic. As we close out this year, we invite you to help steward this work of the future by supporting our efforts. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our vision is only possible with your generosity. If you are able, we ask you to support generously with a one-time or recurring gift of any amount. If you don’t have the financial means, we invite you to support us by providing answers to our community questions, or by sharing this request with employers, colleagues and friends. Support Counterpublic: https://lnkd.in/gTDc2qVC Community Questions: https://lnkd.in/gmmTjN83 This work would not be possible without you, and we thank you for showing up, your contributions, and being a part of the Counterpublic process!

Counterpublic 2026 Curators Stefanie Hessler and Raphael Fonseca were selected for ArtReview’s The Power 100! From ArtReview — “The Power 100 list is an annual tally of who and what made art happen during the past 12 months. It’s a structural portrait of international contemporary art, identifying and accounting for the figures and faces who have created, inspired and crafted the art we see. And sometimes it questions the extent to which contemporary art can be or is truly international in the first place.” Congratulations to Stefanie and Raphael! We are so delighted your minds and energies are a part of the curatorial ensemble for the 2026 Edition. Counterpublic looks forward to sharing more about the curatorial process of 2026 in the new year! To continue reading about Stefanie and Raphael, and view the complete list, visit ArtReview’s website: https://lnkd.in/dq-E9-g

Thank you for the outpouring of support since Counterpublic announced the transfer of the next section of Sugarloaf Mound last week. For those looking to get involved and do more yourself, especially today on Native American Heritage Day, we encourage people to support the preservation effort by donating to the Osage Nation Foundation and specify it is for Sugarloaf Mound. The Osage Nation Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to promote the continued development of the Osage Reservation and the communities influenced by the Osage Nation. The Osage Nation Foundation primarily works to promote and enhance the general welfare of the people of the Osage Nation by supporting cultural, educational, health, historical, community and other appropriate activities and programs. Our funding supports projects directly impacting and benefiting Osage Nation members, particularly artists and youth, in addition to causes and activities supporting the communities where Osage live and work. The projects we support are intended to have definable and measurable outcomes and make a meaningful and lasting difference in and around the Osage Nation. Donate today at https://lnkd.in/gnjVzR7A

Over the past week, Counterpublic has been featured in a number of news articles celebrating the rematriation of Sugarloaf Mound. What’s more, we have witnessed an outpouring of support from St. Louisans, the Midwest, and beyond. Writers have handled this historic moment with care and attention, interviewing key members of this campaign and contextualizing Sugarloaf Mound within the greater Land Back movement. Take a moment to read some of the quotes and segments! Jim Salter for The Associated Press: "St. Louis was once known as Mound City for its many Native American mounds. Just one remains." https://lnkd.in/gUZkjd59 Angella d'Avignon for The Art Newspaper: "Indigenous mound in St Louis is transferred to the Osage Nation" https://lnkd.in/gKwynHsK Christine Jackson for St. Louis Magazine: "Osage Nation is one step closer to complete stewardship of Sugarloaf Mound" https://lnkd.in/gPNh7_QU Adam Schrader for artnet: "Historic Land Transfer to Osage Nation Facilitated by Arts Group" https://lnkd.in/gVnPnmHc Chad Davis for St. Louis Public Radio: "Osage Nation regains home on Sugarloaf Mound as part of reclamation efforts" https://lnkd.in/guVU64mf Gabrielle Hays for PBS NewsHour: "A sacred site in St. Louis will return to the Osage Nation" https://lnkd.in/gHTmZBWc Kaili Berg for Native News Online: "Sacred Mound Returned to Osage Nation" https://lnkd.in/gEuPndgp

Counterpublic and the Osage Nation announce the historic land transfer of Sugarloaf Mound. In partnership with the Osage Nation, Counterpublic is honored to announce a historic land transfer agreement for Sugarloaf Mound, the last intact Mississippian mound and oldest human-made structure located in the City of St. Louis. Accompanying the transfer will be a first of its kind resolution by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen sponsored by Cara Spencer and with the support of Mayor Tishaura Jones, marking the City’s first public acknowledgement of the sovereignty of the Osage Nation with ancestral rights to this sacred site. The announcement marks a major milestone in Counterpublic’s three-year effort to rematriate the entirety of the mound to the Osage Nation. Artistic and Executive Director James McAnally and Dr. Andrea Hunter, Director of the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office, with Counterpublic 2023 curators Risa Puleo and New Red Order, have stewarded the rematriation process with private owner Joan Heckenberg, who has lived atop the mound for over eighty years. Our aim has been to create an intentional process that offers a replicable model for how art can connect with Land Back movements directly to seed lasting change. Following the purchase of the summit of the mound by the Osage Nation in 2009, the transfer agreement with private owner Joan Heckenberg leaves only one home remaining on the mound, currently owned by the St. Louis chapter of Kappa Psi, a national pharmaceutical fraternity. We’re hopeful that the Board Resolution, paired with public input from supporters like you, will help facilitate the sale or transfer of this last home for the long-term preservation of the mound and eventual construction of an Osage Interpretive Center. Visit the link below to learn more about the rematriation of Sugarloaf Mound: https://lnkd.in/gYiTpd_N #Counterpublic #Counterpublic2023 #Counterpublic2026 Mellon Foundation #SugarloafMound #IndigenousSTL #OsageNation #LandBack #NewRedOrder #indigenousart #landbackmovement

Artists, are you looking for a way to build your connections within the artist community? Attend our St. Louis Artist Connect Night! Meet us, meet each other, and learn more about how to connect with Counterpublic as an artist. Date: Wednesday, November 13 Time: 6-8 PM Location: TechArtista UCity, 725 Kingsland Ave, University City, MO 63130 Registration is appreciated, but not required. Visit https://lnkd.in/gr_8nSzp to register today! We can't wait to talk with you ??

Welcome Abraham Diaz to the Counterpublic team as a Community Organizer! ?? Abraham Diaz is an architectural designer, artist, and community organizer based in St. Louis, MO. He is dedicated to social justice through the research and practice of somatic design, a field closely related to trauma-informed design. In 2022, he received a Divided City Graduate Summer Research Fellowship where he traveled to the Southwestern United States to document US Customs and Border Patrol interior checkpoints, proof of what he considers the United State’s growing legacy of colonialism and white supremacy. Abraham is active in the movement for a free Palestine.