Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati

The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati stands as a pioneering institution in the American art scene, being one of the first in the United States solely dedicated to contemporary art. Established in 1939 under the name Modern Art Society by Betty Pollak Rauh, Peggy Frank Crawford, and Rita Rentschler Cushman, the CAC has remained a non-collecting museum with a bold mission: to present “the art of the last five minutes.”

From its earliest days, the CAC has spotlighted groundbreaking work in painting, sculpture, photography, performance, architecture, and new media, often giving early platforms to artists who would later become icons-Andy Warhol being a prime example. Its exhibitions were once held at the Cincinnati Art Museum, followed by a series of temporary and semi-permanent homes, including the Taft Museum of Art, the Carew Tower, and the Mercantile Center (designed by Harry Weese).

The CAC’s journey culminated in a major turning point with the opening of the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in 2003. Designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid-her first completed project in the U.S.-the building itself became a cultural landmark. The New York Times architecture critic Herbert Muschamp declared it “the most important American building to be completed since the Cold War,” a testament to both Hadid’s vision and the CAC’s significance.

With over 400 exhibitions mounted over the decades, the CAC has consistently been a risk-taker and trendsetter in contemporary art. Today, it continues to serve as a vibrant platform for artists who challenge convention, explore the present moment, and redefine what art can mean in the world today.