CINCINNATI, OH.- The Cincinnati Art Museum and 21c Museum share a mission: making art accessible and relevant to the everyday. That passion for bringing people and art together has ignited a first of its kind partnership with the exhibit, The Way We Are Now: Selections from the 21c Collection.

More than 40 important contemporary works of art from the 21c Museum collection, courtesy of 21c Museum Hotel founders and collectors Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, will be on display. Curated by 21c Museum Director, William Morrow, the exhibition will explore the defining issues of our time; politics, religion, war, sexual identity, racism, and immigration. According to Cincinnati Art Museum Chief Curator James Crump, “The Way We Are Now is a mirror onto our present day reality. Brown and Wilson have demonstrated time and again their support of, passion for and leadership in cutting edge contemporary art. Their efforts combining collecting, development and urban renewal set the standard, not only in this region but internationally as well. Cincinnati is fortunate to have 21c."

21c Museum Director William Morrow notes, “This exhibition offers a glimpse of the art that will be on display in the future 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati reflecting our commitment to exhibiting regional and emerging artists alongside internationally known artists. We are thrilled to be working with the Cincinnati Art Museum and look forward to continued collaboration with CAM and the other arts and cultural institutions in the city.”

Among the works selected for this exhibition are photographs, video, mixed media installations and sculpture including many works that have never been publicly displayed. Artists include Stephen Irwin, Jose Maria Cano, Chuck Close, Loretta Lux, Kenneth Tin Kin Hung, Din Q Le, Vik Muniz, Mickalene Thomas, Tony Oursler, Yinka Shonibare and more.

21c Museum is part of 21c Museum Hotel located in downtown Louisville, KY. Brown and Wilson will open a 21c Cincinnati in 2012, with plans to renovate and restore the former Metropole Hotel—a historic landmark in downtown Cincinnati. Born out of a love of contemporary art, a desire to create alternative downtown spaces that draw people in from urban sprawl and a belief that art should be accessible and without pretense, 21c and its collection promises to be a catalyst for cultural life in the city.
President and CEO of 3CDC Steve Leeper, "Investment by 3CDC and the City of Cincinnati to make the Central Business District an attractive and vibrant area has resulted in additional private investment that is critical to a city's success. There is no question in my mind that the opening of 21c will inspire other great establishments to invest in the Central Business District".