When the Art World Came to St. Louis: The Noonan-Kocian Art Company at Tenth & Locust

It was an evening in March 1930, and a crowd had gathered at a prestigious gallery in the United States. On one wall were works by Paul Cezanne and on another works by Seurat, Segonzac and Derain. On that evening, this was the center of the art trade in a world thrust into economic depression. And the world’s modern masterpieces were on display.

And they were for sale. All of them.

The location was at the northeast corner of Locust and Tenth Streets in downtown St. Louis. Art dealer Arthur A. Kocian stood watch as collectors and gawkers eyed the paintings that hung at the Noonan-Kocian Art Company, 923 Locust Street.[1]

{923 Locust in 1955 - even though the gallery had moved across the street and a modern storefront added, framed paintings can still be seen in the second story window}