Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago stands as one of the most esteemed art museums in the United States, offering a vast and diverse collection that spans centuries, continents, and artistic traditions. Founded in 1879 during a pivotal moment in Chicago’s rebirth after the Great Fire of 1871, the museum emerged as both a center of art education and a civic monument to resilience and culture. Since moving into its iconic Beaux-Arts building in 1893—originally constructed for the World’s Columbian Exposition and famously guarded by two bronze lions—the Art Institute has become a landmark of cultural and architectural significance.

Dedicated to preserving and interpreting the creative expressions of artists from around the world, the museum embraces the evolving context in which art is made and understood. With nearly 300,000 objects in its collection, it offers an unparalleled journey through artistic heritage, from ancient artifacts and European masters to modernist icons and contemporary innovators. Highlights include paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Hopper, and O’Keeffe, as well as rich holdings in photography, textiles, architecture, and decorative arts.

The Art Institute has continued to grow with the city it serves. The opening of the Modern Wing in 2009 expanded its capacity to showcase 20th- and 21st-century art in an airy, light-filled space designed by Renzo Piano. The museum remains deeply tied to education through its close partnership with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, cultivating the next generation of artists and thinkers.

More than just a repository of art, the Art Institute is a vibrant space for reflection, dialogue, and discovery. It invites visitors to engage with creativity in all its forms and to consider the cultural and historical narratives that shape our shared experience.