The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is a fine-art gallery that’s one of the oldest and largest museums in the United States. Even if you aren’t an art connoisseur, you’ll be delighted to see plenty of famous paintings lined throughout the gallery. The Art Institute of Chicago hosts everything from Vincent Van Gogh’s "Self-Portrait" to Grant Wood’s "American Gothic," and the gallery has the biggest collection of Claude Monet works outside of Paris.

A visit to this museum can provide a learning opportunity for visitors of all ages. You can investigate art history, explore innovative art techniques, and start a dialogue with those who are trying to improve public service and civic engagement. The museum offers its visitors more than just artwork. You can expect to find books, writings, reference materials, and other resources.

The Art Institute of Chicago - one of the highlights of 10 Movie Locations in Chicago and 8 Places to Learn Something New in Chicago (Read all about Chicago here)

Highlights of The Art Institute of Chicago

One highlight of The Art Institute of Chicago is the collection of ancient Roman art, which contains everything from marble and brass statues to paintings, jewellery, bottles, mosaics, and more. The intricate designs that historical artists created were simply amazing, especially considering that they were working without today's modern technology. Throughout the reign of the Roman Empire, art was used for various functions but ultimately was utilised to beautify the Roman world.

Another highlight of the gallery is the Asian art exhibit where you can find sculptures and paintings completed in different types of mediums that date back 5 millennia. The exhibit highlights artwork created out of paper, wood, ceramic, jade, and more. Enjoy pieces from countries all around Asia, showcasing a wide variety of styles. View some famous religious sculptures or paintings depicting early dynasty war scenes.

History of The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 as an art museum and a school for the fine arts. In 1893, it moved into its current location and has gone through 9 expansions since that time. With over 300,000 works of art, both the fine-arts school and the art gallery museum are internationally recognised as leading fine-arts institutions.

When Chicago hosted the 1933 World’s Fair, the Art Institute loaned an exhibit entitled "A Century of Progress." The exhibit received 1.5 million visitors from all around the globe in 5 months, making it the highest-attended exhibit in the Art Institute’s history. The 1950s saw the beginning of several expansions to the Art Institute, including staff, artwork, departments, and structural building expansions. The 1970s saw an increase in both art students and visitors to the museum, so an entire wing was added to accommodate.

Good to know at The Art Institute of Chicago

For those interested in visiting The Art Institute of Chicago but who don’t have 4 to 5 hours to spend, the museum has put together a highlighted 1-hour tour. Take a quick spin through the museum, catching the most iconic and beloved works that include paintings of different styles and some of the most famous paintings and sculptures.

Another aid the museum provides is an app that you can download on your mobile device to provide you with extra information, like audible versions of stories behind the art as well as conversations with artists and experts. There are 2 main entrances to the Art Institute. One is located on South Michigan Avenue and the other is on East Monroe Street. Check online for the best places to park and the best ways to arrive via public transport.

Locatie: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Telefoonnummer: +1 312-443-3600

Dit artikel bevat persoonlijke meningen van de Go Guides-redactie. Hotels.com compenseert auteurs voor hun artikels die op deze site verschijnen. Een dergelijke vergoeding kan reis- en andere kosten omvatten.