Poems at an Exhibition
by Byron Sletten with Ken Kooser and Connie Wanek
Exhibition Dates: December 20205 – May 2026
Location: Post-Security, E Concourse
Airports are crossroads of stories, with every traveler carrying their own. This exhibition offers its own collection of stories, where art and poetry can turn familiar moments into something lasting and meaningful.
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between visual artist Byron Slettenand poets Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek. Rather than one medium illustrating theother, their works are paired to spark conversation, each deepening the meaning ofthe other. What may seem likeasimple daily experience can take on lasting significance, reminding us of life’s most important connections.
Every traveler moves on, carrying a story. May these pairings of image and wordbecome part of yours, reminders of the beauty and meaning in everyday life.
About the Collaboration
Poems at an Exhibitionis about how ordinary experiences can stand in for something that connects us more deeply, something we all share and recognize.Sletten, Kooser and Wanek practice a form of storytelling that begins with the familiar, an ordinary moment, an observed detail that unfolds into something more meaningful. Sletten’sprints capture light, texture, and form with digital precision,while Kooser and Wanek’s poems bring voice, humor, and tenderness to thosesame experiences. Side by side, image and word create a layered narrative that invites us to slow down, notice more, and find stories of our own in the details of life.
About the Artist: Byron Sletten with Ken Kooser and Connie Wanek
Byron Sletten, a St. Louis artist, has exhibited in more than 40 national andinternational shows over four decades. His work blends fine art traditions with advanced 3D imaging, transforming everyday objects into visual metaphors. Ted Kooser, former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner, is known for poetry that elevates daily Midwestern life into universal reflection.Connie Wanek, award-winning poet, writes with vivid imagery and wit, reframing the familiar with tenderness and imagination.
More Art
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ArtReach: Confluence
by Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
LOCATION
Post-Security, E Concourse
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