Born out of a love of contemporary art; a desire to create alternative downtown spaces that prevent urban sprawl; a belief that art should be accessible, interactive and without pretense, 21c Museum Hotel in Downtown Louisville has established itself as a nationally recognized destination for contemporary art. 21c Cincinnati follows the success of the Louisville flagship and will open in 2012, promising to be tailored to reflect the unique character of Cincinnati. The Way We Are Now: Selections from the 21c Collection at the Cincinnati Art Museum showcases more than 40 important works from 21c in a focused exhibition premised on the here and now; on the critical issues most affecting modern society: politics, religion, war, sexual identity, racism, popular culture and immigration, among others. Counted among the works selected are photographs, video, mixed media installations and sculpture by leaders of contemporary art, ranging from regional standouts to an international who’s who: Stephen Irwin, Jose Maria Cano, Chuck Close, Andres Serrano, Loretta Lux, Letitia Quesenberry, Tin Kin Hung, Din Q Le, Vik Muniz, Mickalene Thomas, Tony Oursler, Yinka Shonibare and more.