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The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the finest art museums in the world. With several important pieces in its collection and excellent temporary exhibits, it’s a must-see for art lovers visiting Chicago.
Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is open Thursday through Monday. It sits along the east side of Michigan Avenue in Grant Park, just south of Millennium Park. Adult admission is US$20 for Chicago residents, US$27 for Illinois residents, and US$32 for all others (as of February 2024). Children under 14 are admitted free of charge.
Brief History of the Art Institute of Chicago
The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts opened on May 24, 1879, as a school and museum. It was located at the corner of Michigan and Monroe. It took its current name on December 23, 1882. The building was built in 1893 for the Chicago World’s Fair as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building, with an agreement in place for the Art Institute to move in. The World’s Fair took place from May 1 to October 31, 1893, and the Art Institute occupied the building on November 1.
The building was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of Boston. It contains 273 galleries with a total of 562,000 square feet (52,200 square meters) of floor space. Several additions have been made, including the Modern Wing designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and completed in 2009.
Lion Sculptures
Two bronze lions flank the entrance of the Art Institute. They were donated by Florence Lathrop Field Page (1858-1921) in memory of her late husband, Henry Field (1841-189) and were created by sculptor Edward Kemeys (1843-1907). While they don’t have official names, the lion to the south “stands in an attitude of defiance” while the one to the north is “on the prowl”. The lions are often dressed up in support of Chicago’s sports teams.
Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago
Over 300,000 works of art are in the museum’s collection and it is one of the most visited art museums in the world. It can take a full day to go through all of the rooms in the museum.
Important Works of Art
Many of the works of art are instantly recognizable, including Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic. Others aren’t familiar but very impressive.
Some very important paintings by world famous artists such as Van Gogh, El Greco, Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, and more are included in the collection.
The extensive American art collection includes works by Georgia O’Keefe and many others.
Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago
The Modern Wing features contemporary works of art by artists such as Picasso and Salvador Dalí. It opened in 2009 and is connected to Millennium Park via the Nichols Bridgeway.
Ancient and Byzantine Art
The Ancient and Byzantine Art collection features works from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, including coins, busts, vases, and reliefs.
A very impressive sculpture collection is also on display, as well as art from Asia.
