Iranian-born Siah Armajani is a leading figure in conceptualizing the role and function of public art, including its incorporation in bridges. His mixed-media work Kansas City No. 1 was donated to Kansas City’s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art two years ago, and is the centerpiece of the exhibition Siah Armajani: Bridge Builder on display at the museum from September 8, 2016, to January 22, 2017.

On the eve of the exhibit’s opening, Armajani – who designed the Olympic cauldron for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta – discusses his work and efforts to promote cultural connectivity by intertwining social science, art, and architecture.

Co-presented by the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Its Armajani exhibit is made possible by the Sosland family, Norm Fretwell and Bev Haskins, Linda and Michael Lyon, and the Jack and Karen Holland Visiting Artist Fund.