Photography Gallery
Established in 1988, The Kooyumjian Gallery is a nonprofit gallery dedicated to photography and media arts. The gallery exhibits a wide range of photographic works by student, local, national and international photographers.
Newly remodeled and expanded as part of the School of Communications Sverdrup west wing renovations, the newly designed gallery space re-opened in the fall of 2022. The Kooyumjian Gallery provides a formal gallery space for presenting exhibitions, fostering young photographers and showcasing professional and student works.
The gallery and gallery events are free and open to the public.
Now on Exhibit:
Matika Wilbur — Project 652: Changing The Way We See Native America
Feb. 10 – April 22
Project 652: Changing The Way We See Native America is a photographic and narrative celebration of contemporary Native American life and cultures, alongside an in-depth examination of issues that Native people face, by celebrated photographer and storyteller Matika Wilbur of the Swinomish and Tulalip Tribes.
In 2012, Matika Wilbur sold everything in her Seattle apartment and set out on a Kickstarter-funded pursuit to visit, engage and photograph people from what were then the 562 federally recognized Native American Tribal Nations. Over the next decade, she traveled six hundred thousand miles across fifty states — from Seminole country (now known as the Everglades) to Inuit territory (now known as the Bering Sea) — to meet, interview and photograph hundreds of Indigenous people.
The body of work Wilbur created serves to counteract the one-dimensional and archaic stereotypes of Native people in mainstream media and offers justice to the richness, diversity and lived experiences of Indian Country. The culmination of this decade-long art and storytelling endeavor, Project 562 is a peerless, sweeping and moving love letter to Indigenous Americans, containing hundreds of stunning portraits and compelling personal narratives of contemporary Native people — all photographed in clothing, poses and locations of their choosing. Their narratives touch on personal and cultural identity as well as issues of media representation, sovereignty, faith, family, the protection of sacred sites, subsistence living, traditional knowledge-keeping, land stewardship, language preservation, advocacy, education, the arts and more. A vital contribution from an incomparable artist, Project 562 inspires, educates and truly changes the way we see Native America.
Join Us — Special Reception in Late February!
Special Reception and Artist Talk with Simiya Sudduth
5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28
Sideshow Spotlight — Simiya Sudduth: The Confluence Tarot
The cards and illustrations featured in this exhibition are part of an ongoing tarot card-based illustration series titled “The Confluence Tarot.” Within this series, the artist explores the histories, cultures, systems, institutions, landscapes and diverse living beings of the Mississippi River watershed — past, present and future. The work draws heavy inspiration from the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card deck. The Confluence Tarot series, along with the artist's broader creative practice, serves as an offering to the Land, Ancestors and Beings within the spaces of the Great Mississippi River.
Upcoming Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibitions
Join Us to Celebrate FUSE!
Opening Reception and the FUSE Undergraduate Awards Friday: 5:30-8 p.m., Friday, May 2
The FUSE: 2025 Faculty, Undergraduate and Senior Exhibit
The FUSE is a collaborative exhibit of the Barrett Faculty Exhibit, the 38th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibit with a highlight on the achievements of the 2025 seniors. A celebration of our creative community, this exhibition captures the creative energy at Webster University. Featuring the work of Film, Photography, Animation and Game Design students, this exhibition illuminates standout students' works and will deliver a vibrant experience alongside the works of their mentors, the faculty. A unmissable event, the evening will culminate in the FUSE Awards: Still Image and Motion Media awards with a screening of the award-winning student works.
Terry Smith: Accidental Geekery
Alumnus Terry Smith, Photojournalism (’02), is a photographer and videographer living and working in St. Louis. Through a winding combination of obsessions, collections and connections, he managed to accidentally land the job that he dreamed about when he was 12 years old: photographing action figures. Smith explains, “What you’re seeing in this body of work is a culmination of many things that mostly happened by accident. It takes decades of subconscious education via repeated consumption to develop this level of geekery — passively absorbing the work of comic book artists, pulp fantasy cover illustrators, and figure sculptors — and, additionally, a whole lot of luck to then parlay that into a career. I want to encapsulate a moment from a beloved bit of pop culture. I want to trigger nostalgia. I want fans of comics and movies and video games to see these images and feel that bit of wonder they felt when they were first exposed to the subjects as children."
Special Reception: Friday, Sept. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sideshow Spotlight — Alex Shubert: Zine Police
Alex Schubert is a cartoonist who first gained recognition for his VICE comic strip Blobby Boys, later a series of books published by Koyama Press (in English) and Misma (in French). Since then, Schubert has worked as a designer on many animated projects for clients including Disney, Cartoon Network and HBO Max, among others. He has also written, directed and art directed shorts for FOX, Viceland and Adult Swim.
Johnnie Izquierdo
Johnnie Izquierdo is a commercial photographer and photojournalist who resides in New Jersey and Tennessee. He specializes in action, photojournalism and editorial/commercial work. Izquierdo has worked with some of the world's most prestigious athletes and brands. He is known for building a special connection with his subjects to create iconic imagery to last a lifetime.
Opening Reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3
Sideshow Spotlight — Local Artist Eric Woods of Firecracker Press
Eric Woods, the founder and owner of Firecracker Press, has become an integral figure in the St. Louis art and design community. With a deep passion for both graphic design and printmaking, Woods has built the studio into a unique creative space that blends craftsmanship and artistry. Growing up in Piedmont and Jackson, Missouri, Woods developed a love for the outdoors, a passion that continues to influence his artistic approach. He credits his childhood experiences — particularly his grandfather’s work as a park ranger — for instilling in him an appreciation for nature, which he later translated into his design work. In his creative process, Woods draws inspiration from the world around him, often finding beauty in unexpected places. He has a particular fascination with old neon signs and mid-20th century architecture, elements he often captures during hikes or road trips. His work frequently incorporates these visual influences, blending them with his unique aesthetic to create designs that feel both nostalgic and contemporary.
Beginnings 2025: Juried High School Exhibition
This exhibit showcases the artistry of high school student photographers. The choice of subject, creativity and composition shares the immense talent of these students and shines a spotlight on the imagination of these teens.
Interested in having your high school participate? Email us at kgallery@webster.edu
Submission Deadline: Nov. 6, 2025
Exhibition Opening Reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
Connect With Us on Socials
Kooyumjian Gallery
School of Communications, Sverdrup Building Second Floor, West Wing
Campus Map (Building 27)
8300 Big Bend Blvd.
Webster Groves, MO 63119
Street parking available or campus lots H and D
For immediate gallery entry, call Public Safety at 314-246-6911
Open daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Supported by the Missouri Arts Council
Financial assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. The Missouri Arts Council supports the arts that strengthen the cultural, educational and economic vitality of our state.
All images appearing on this webpage are copyright of the photographers.
Highlights from the Kooyumjian Gallery
News
Webster’s Kooyumjian Gallery Spotlights Projects by Two Native American Photographers
February 13, 2025
News
In the News – Keane, Curtis, Timmerman, Smith, Roberts, Kooyumjian Gallery, Operation Food Search
January 21, 2025
News
In the News – Keane, Cummings, Gorga, Wood, Hall, Carter, Smith, Roberts, Butz, Kooyumjian Gallery
December 19, 2024