Art culture King
The Great Escape
Grand Hall Mural Project
UNVEILING: September 5, 2025, 5-8PM
September 5, 2025 - August 2026
The Great Escape is a series of three paintings that explores the artist's personal struggles within the art world. This body of work addresses the challenges Art Culture King has faced, including severe social anxiety and imposter syndrome, and the confusion of feeling these things despite knowing he is talented. The paintings are created using acrylics and airbrush techniques, which mimic the effect of spray paint and color-blocking. By using canvas as the substrate, the artist hopes to evoke the feeling of seeing graffiti on a brick wall.
The Grand Hall Mural Project, begun in 2021, is an exhibition program featuring original, commissioned work by professional artists installed in the Foundry Art Centre’s Grand Hall. As with all of the Foundry’s arts and exhibitions programs, the project places special emphasis on the extraordinary talent of our region’s artists. These site-specific works will be a major focal point in the space throughout the year, serving as an important and vibrant backdrop for the Foundry’s next year of programming and events. The works are available for sale.
About Art Culture King
Art Culture King, aka Cameron Williams, is a passionate St. Louis-based illustrator and painter. His work explores themes of mental health and childhood trauma. With a distinctive style that blends colorful imagery, powerful lines, graffiti-style storytelling, and dark meaning, Art Culture King’s art captures the imagination and invites viewers into richly crafted visual worlds.
His work has been shown at Paint Louis; Shakespeare in the Park; Art, Mimosas, and Pancakes; Vibe STL; Graciously Noticed Art Expo, and Sofie’s Artist Lounge.
Williams would like to thank everyone who has supported his journey, and hopes to continue creating work in which he can grow as an artist.
This exhibition is made possible with public support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information, please email Jessica Mannisi, Director of Exhibitions, at jmannisi@foundryartcentre.org.