Chicago Art Institute is Founded in 1879, one of the largest museums in the world and houses an extraordinary collection of objects from different places, cultures and times. It is also a place of active learning for all who are committed to research, innovation, education and dialogue, constantly aiming for greater public service and civic engagement.
Chicago Art Institute History, Architectural Structure, Works
Chicago Art Institute was founded in 1879 as both a fine arts museum and a school; This was a critical period in Chicago history when civic energies were dedicated to rebuilding the metropolis destroyed by the Great Fire of 1871. The Institute found its permanent home in 1893, when it moved into a building that is now considered the traditional homelands of the Three Fires Council, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. Constructed in partnership with the city of Chicago for the World’s Columbian Exposition, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street, this building is flanked by two famous bronze lions and remains the museum’s “front door” even today.
Since its founding in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago has shared its unique collections with the city and the world.
In line with the academic origins of the institution, a research library was built in 1901; This was followed by eight major expansions for the gallery and administrative space, the latest being the Modern Wing, which opened in 2009. The permanent collection has reached nearly 300,000 works of art in fields ranging from plaster moldings and Chinese bronzes to contemporary design, installation art and textiles. Together, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago museum are now internationally recognized as the two leading fine arts institutions in the United States.
Chicago Art Institute Architectural Structure, Interiors
Chicago Art Institute is an architectural monument that represents Chicago’s rich history of educating young artists and recalls the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition was a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in North America. But many in Chicago saw it as an exit party for the city. They were excited to host the exhibition as a way to showcase the city’s triumphant rebirth after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Like many of the large, exclusive buildings in the White City, it was designed in the Beaux Arts style preferred by Burnham. Its masonry load-bearing walls are lined with limestone, and the building’s two-story central portico is surrounded by perfectly symmetrical, identical wings. The influence of ancient Greece and Rome can be felt in the ornamentation, which includes Corinthian columns, friezes copied from the Parthenon, a triangular pediment with acroter, and goddess statues on both the north and south façades.
Designed by Boston architecture firm Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, the original Beaux Arts building has been augmented by eight additional buildings to house the Art Institute’s ever-growing collections, which now include close to 300,000 works of art.
Renzo Piano’s Modern Wing, the most recent building addition in 2009, increased gallery space by 30 percent and added another 264,000 square feet. The addition reflects 21st century technology and concerns about respect for the context and its own environmental impact. The east and west facades of the annex pay homage to the original structure with their limestone exterior, while the north-facing glass wall allows for complete views of Millennium Park.
Chicago Art Institute Interior
Chicago Art Institute Notable Works
The Bedroom– Vincent van Gogh
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte – Georges Seurat
Nighthawks (Nightbirds) – Edward Hopper
American Gothic – Grant Wood
Water Lilies – Claude Monet
The Child’s Bath – Mary Cassatt
Where is Chicago Art Institute, How to Get There, Directions, Visiting Hours, Entrance Fee
Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, United States
Use The Art Institute is located just one block east of the Loop and is easily accessible via the city’s “L” train system. The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple lines all stop above ground at Adams/Wabash, one block west of the museum. The Red and Blue lines stop at the subway in Monroe, just a few blocks away. Numerous bus lines also stop in front of the museum. Currently, the “L” fee is $2.50 per adult.
Admission: $25, free for kids under 14.
Monday, members only 10:00 am to 11:00 am, public 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Wednesday Closed
Thursday – Sunday, members only 10:00 – 11:00 am, public 11:00 – 18:00
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day