Chicago '13

Art & Design

A survey of art, architecture and design in the Windy City.

Art Galleries, Art Museums, Public Art

While the Art Institute of Chicago is the best known of Chicago's world-class art museums, there is a variety of outstanding alternatives — each with is own strengths and charm.

Chicago also offers the greatest U.S. concentration of art galleries outside of New York. The River North Gallery District has fresh images and forms around every corner.

Public works appear on every block — in courtyards, in lobbies, on walls and bridges and afixed to buildings. Culture is alive and well, thank you.

 

Go here for these activities: Galleries & Museums | Architecture | Shopping | Restaurants | Audio Tours | Activities

 

The Art Institute of Chicago	The AIC has an incredible collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, but has an excellent collection in most periods of art. Suggestion: when you arrive, take a few minutes to study the selection of galleries — pick your top two or three areas, and head there. Don't try to see it all in a single short visit. You may use a camera, but no flash, when shooting permanent collection works (i.e. no photos of special exhibits or traveling, loaned artworks) You may sketch and take notes with a pencil (no ink pens) Adults: $18 Children, Students, and Seniors (65 and up): $12 Gallery Map PDF | Interactive Map |	On S. Michigan Ave., backed onto Grant Park, a couple of blocks south of Millennium Park. Just look for the lions guarding the entrance. ( map ) 111 South Michigan Avenue (312) 443-3600
The Museum of Contemporary Art	Always an adventure in the unexpected — late Modern, Post-Modern and contemporary art, performances, videos, etc.. Suggested General Admission $12 Students with ID and Senior Citizens $ 7 Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 10 am - 5 pm	On Chicago Ave., about 2 blocks east of Michigan. ( map ) 220 East Chicago Avenue (312) 280-2660
Museum of Contemporary Photography	"The Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) is the only museum in the Midwest with an exclusive commitment to the medium of photography. ... presenting projects and exhibitions that embrace a wide range of contemporary aesthetics and technologies...." Free admission Mon–Fri: 10am to 5pm Thu: 10am to 8pm Sat: 10am to 5pm Sun: 12pm to 5pm	On S. Michigan Ave. ( map ) 600 South Michigan Avenue (312) 663-5554
Oriental Institute	Ancient Middle East — Israel, Assyria, Babylon...Biblical cultures. Open Tue,Thu-Sat 10am-6pm; Wed 10am-8:30pm; Sun 12pm-6pm Donation box at entrance: suggested $7/ adult	On the campus of the University of Chicago, less than a block from the Robie House. ( map ) 1155 East 58th Street (773) 702-9514
Smart Museum of Art	University of Chicago's art museum. A smaller, more intimate museum than the major, downtown venues. Good collection. Free admission	On 56th St., near Ellis. (several blocks north of Oriental Institute and Robie House) (map)
Spertus Museum	Judiac art and cultural artifacts. Galleries on the 9th & 10th floors. Open Sunday-Thursday, 10a-5p (closed Fri & Sat)	On S. Michigan Ave. Next door to Mus. of Contemp. Photog. ( map )
	Art Galleries
River North Gallery District	View Larger Map Chicago's highly concentrated area of art, furniture and craft galleries. Located NW of downtown, several blocks north of the river, mainly between Chicago Ave and Erie, and Orleans and Wells. (near the CTA Brown Line, Chicago station.) Galleries List/Links/Maps/Newsletter *** Gallery List/Links — ChicagoGalleries.com Gallery List/Links — Art-Collecting.com	— Stephen Daiter G — Ken Saunders G — Gallery KH — Architech G — Schneider G — Jean Albano G — Perimeter G — Zg Gallery — Catherine Edelman G — David Weinberg Photography
West Loop Gallery District	View Larger Map Access via CTA Green or Pink lines to Morgan-Lake station.	— Packer Schopf G — Linda Warren Projects — kasia kay artprojects gallery — E/C Gallery — McCormick Gallery — Function + Art — Chicago Artists' Coalition — Rhona Hoffman G — Douglas Dawson G — Peter Miller G — Moto — Gallery 213 — Casati Gallery — FM* Gallery — Three Walls — Friedman Fine Art — Habitat — Western Exhibitions — Document — Kavi Gupta Gallery — Andrew Rafacz Gallery — Mars Gallery — Volume Gallery — Tony Wight G — Alderman Exhibitions
Galleries Near Chicago Ave. & Michigan Ave.	View Larger Map	There are several galleries, shops and museums within a short walk of the Chicago Avenue and Michigian Avenue intersection.
	Public Sculptures
	There are many publically accessible works throughout the downtown area. Some are in lobbies, others are on the street. (Loop Art Tour/MP3/PDF) Alexander Calder — Flamingo Claes Oldenburg — (base ball bat...60' ) DuBuffet Miro — mosaic mural in the Civic Center Plaza Pablo Picasso — Civic Center Plaza ... more to come....
Nuclear Energy (sculpture)	At this National Historic Landmark Henry Moore's sculpture marks the site of the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1942. The Manahattan Project was conducted on the campus of the University of Chicago during World War II, prior to the development of nuclear bombs in New Mexico.	About 1 block SW of the Smart Museum, on S. Ellis., on the campus of the University of Chicago.

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