Large-Scale Watercolor Paintings Evoke the Elements at STL

The four elements of life inspired local artist Carol Carter in her vibrant watercolor art now showing at St. Louis Lambert International Airport titled, Elements. The dynamic exhibition features four large, original watercolor paintings mounted side-by-side depicting her artistic interpretation of air, fire, earth and water. The eye-catching work is located in Terminal 2 between gates E10 and E14.

“Each aspect of my work is mysterious, seductive, intense, and inviting,” said Carter, who describes her paintings as containing duality: clarity and ambiguity; sanctuary and threat; pleasure and pain. The use of vibrant, saturated-color contributes to the tension between these extremes.

An internationally recognized watercolorist, Carter makes her home in St. Louis, but regularly travels the world to teach and participate in workshops, sharing her skills and talents with other artists. She earned her MFA from Washington University and later received an MAA-NEA Fellowship in Painting and Works on Paper. Carter grew up in Florida, which gave her a strong visual impression of natural elements, particularly water. She has continued to create work based on the duality of nature and human’s place in the environment. Carol was voted Best St. Louis Artist by The Riverfront Times in 2000.

Elements is part of the Lambert Art & Culture Program’s temporary exhibition program. The program is supported by the Regional Arts Commission.

The Lambert Art & Culture Program is led by the seven-member Airport Art Advisory Committee. Current members are Lisa Cakmak, Associate Curator of Ancient Art at Saint Louis Art Museum; Ellen Gale, Executive Director Clayton Chamber of Commerce; Shelley Hagan, Wells Fargo Curator Corporate Art; Leslie Markle, Curator of Public Art, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum; Kiku Obata, Founding Principal of Kiku Obata & Co.; Roseann Weiss, Director of Community and Public Arts for the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission; and Carlos Zamora, Creative Director at Express Scripts. 

The mission of the Lambert Art and Culture Program is to create a visually outstanding impression of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, generate community pride, and ensure that art at STL continues to complement and build upon the airport’s rich visual legacy. The program aims to highlight the St. Louis region’s unique art and culture, while also showcasing national and international works, focusing on both visual and performing arts.

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