The Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) at Saint Louis University is closing to the public on May 31, 2025, after more than three decades of operation. Its final exhibition, 'Liminal,' features works from 47 artists, many drawn from the museum's permanent collection. The closure, announced last year, is a result of university budget cuts.
The museum's shutdown marks the end of a unique institution widely regarded as the first in the United States dedicated to contemporary religious art. Founded in 1993 by Jesuit Father Terrence Dempsey, MOCRA hosted over 80 exhibitions and built a collection of about 600 works, fostering dialogue between faith and contemporary art. Its permanent collection will be preserved and integrated into exhibits at SLU's Museum of Art, and its staff will be retained within the university's library and museum system.