Art Institute of Chicago

Rather than writing a dissertation delving into some of the nuances of the 260,000 works of art here, and the post-​modern geopolitical implications associated with it, I’m reminded that I prefer to take in art without someone yacking in my ear with their superior «correct» interpretation.
So, I will use the 4 pieces of art I posted pics of here to represent my overall experience at the Art Institute of Chicago:
WOMAN GRABBING HER BREASTS IN THE BATHTUB
In a sense, I felt unleashed and free like her. In particular, her breasts remind me of how well-​rounded this museum is, with each one reflective of the 2 wings here. The MODERN WING has Contemporary Art, Modern American Art (of course), Greek/​Roman/​Byzantine Art, and downstairs they have an Islamic section (there were only like 2 other people besides us in there — I will blame it on people not wanting to walk downstairs to the LL). The MICHIGAN AVENUE BUILDING includes the highly acclaimed Thorne Miniature Rooms (which I didn’t spend too much time in as I didn’t wanna be like the guy at Chuck E Cheese’s without a kid), prints and drawings, Asian/​African/​Indian Art, European Art, and Impressionism. I hold to my position that the Modern Wing is more enjoyable than the Michigan side as tightly as her hands cling to her boobs.
REAL GIRL LOOKING INTO VAN GOGH’S BEDROOMS SPECIAL EXHIBITION
That isn’t a portrait, it’s a physical structure inside the exhibit, and that is a real person looking at it (I talked to her in line, don’t remember her name, but that tends to happen a lot). This was the featured attraction that ended on 5÷10÷16. It was so crowded (at about 2pm on a Monday) that it made it difficult to enjoy it and really take in everything. In this way, this pic represents how I was trying to get a look at everything, but couldn’t quite see it all (like her). Plus, when my feet got tired, I really wish I could use that bed.
AMERICAN GOTHIC
I don’t get to museums as often as I’d like, but when I do go, part of it makes me feel older or more serious or mature or something (and those that have ever read any of my reviews know I’m rarely that), like those in this portrait. This piece personifies all the people watching that goes on at a museum, because we just can’t stare at walls for hours (at least I can’t).
LIZ #3
On the other hand, everyone knows that the hippest people spend their time in museums. It’s a bit less cliché than taking a zillion selfies at The Bean. And, what is cooler than Liz Taylor by Andy Warhol?
Ok, besides the woman grabbing her breasts in the bathtub.

How do you review a place as iconic as the Art institute. So much to see and do and everything is so amazing. I can only humbly suggest tips for getting the most of your day.
1. Leave everything at home. A small camera (use no flash) and your wallet is perfect, since they make you check almost everything.
2. Get an audio tour it adds to the experience esp if you are not very knowledgeable about art.
3. Get a brochure and take the time to plan what you HAVE to see before jumping in. They have a «what to see in 1 hour» guide we ended up using after lunch and helped us get out before we collapsed from exhaustion.
4. If you take photos (no flash) take one that includes the artist name and titles. I had so many great photos that impressed me but I can’t remember the artist or the title.
5. Go again.

The Art Institute of Chicago is a must see contribution to the world of art. However, reserve many hours to fully explore all of it’s extraordinary art collections.
Three floors of exhibitions underestimated. In Atlanta (My hometown), entire exhibitions are viewable inside one hour. This one in Chicago is tremendous in comparison. Three hours was not sufficient enough to fully explore everything. Unfortunately, we hit closing time at the end of the third hour.
I took a road trip from Atlanta, GA to indulge in the actual Van Gogh pieces. It was exciting to see other works of well-​known artists displayed here. Turns out, admission was required separate from the regular admission to access the Van Gogh exhibit. Thankfully, coat check-​in was inexpensive (One thing that wasn’t expensive in Chicago).
Something I learned from this trip, wearing Vans is a poor choice for ankle support.
Please enjoy few of my shared photos from The Art Institute of Chicago (Van Gogh Edition).

«It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning.»
― Vincent van Gogh
We spent all day here. Our friend we were visiting is a member, and treated us; which included free admission and a shorter line to see the special exhibit, Van Gough’s bedroom. Being a super-​fan of his work, it was a treat to see so many new paintings of his I hadn’t seen elsewhere. FUN!
Most of the other patrons were busy with this show, so the other parts were free to roam.
The museum was modern and clean, with a layout that was easy to figure out and maneuver.
So many cool works of art. The permanent collection is drool worthy.
One could easily spend a few days here and not see everything.
The staff was polite and helpful. Some were even funny!
We amused ourselves by reenacting the scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, among other things.
If you’re in Chicago, this is a must.

Fantastic museum! It was great to see they had some Henry Fuseli’s, love his shadowy interpretations. I’ve seen posters, prints & cartoons amongst other media of Grant Wood’s American Gothic & Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks all my life, so it was great to see the actual paintings. Saw so many amazing works here. Missed all 3 versions of Van Gogh’s The Bedroom, but I got to see the one he drew before he cut off his ear & sent Gauguin running! Fantastic experience. Picasso’s The Old Guitarist was my favorite.
The 4 stars vs. 5 is for the wonky layout of the art institute. This museum is 2 separate buildings joined by a central staircase so going from SE building to NE building calls for walking up to the center crossing over then going all the way back. CUMBERSOME. Even when planned out.

I’m not the smartest guy in the world nor I know a lot about artwork. BUT… visiting museums is always something I try to do in every city that I’ve visited. I first fell in love with MOMA in NYC when I was there a few years ago and I still can’t get over how beautiful art can be. I started to appreciate things like this a little more as I started traveling.
My friend and I are big fans of Van Gogh’s and it did not disappoint. When I was in MOMA in NYC, I saw Starry Night and that’s when I fell in love with Van’s Gogh’s artwork.
Notes:
— A must if you’re in Chicago. If you plan on visiting, you can get both the museum and Skydeck at a discounted price which is about $ 45 for both I believe.
— Walking distance from Millennium Park & The Bean.

One of the best that I’ve been to.
Reasonably priced and a great display of art.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as this place is huge!
Chagall’s Windows were amazing!
Within walking distance from other iconic attractions in the Loop.
If you plan on visiting from out of town, you can get both the museum and the Skydeck at a discounted price… Well worth it.

Visiting museums is something I try to do in every city I visit. The Art Institute of Chicago makes all other museums seem weak in comparison. It had been a long time since my last visit, but I was mesmerized all over again. The opulent marble interior takes me back in time and ascending that regal staircase feels so timeless!
We wanted to see Van Gogh’s Bedroom exhibit and it did not disappoint. I wish they had done some crowd control as it was very very crowded, but they nailed the exhibit! Getting to stand in the replica of the house where he lived with Gauguin gave me chills. I know it’s not the same as the actual house, but the depiction showed how primitive the space was and what close proximity two of my favorite artists lived in. I loved seeing the variances between his bedroom paintings too. Seeing the other Van Gogh’s was just the icing on the cake for that exhibit.
When we toured the rest of the museum we were awed by the beautiful Monets and O’Keefes and admired the religious paintings from over 1000 years ago! A personal favorite of mine were the miniature rooms in the lower level. The detail the artists put into their pieces is extraordinary!
We only stayed for two hours, but if we’d had more time I would have loved to explore even more of the Art Institute’s magnificent exhibits!

This museum was excellent. It had many kinds of art (from around the world, different types of art, different eras of art), so truly, something for everyone. Much of the work was exquisite and a lot of it had explanations about the artist, piece or time period, which was helpful to learn more, rather than just staring at a piece.
I went around when it opened on a Monday, and, surprisingly, there was a line to get in. They kept it moving quite quickly, I likely waited no more than 15 – 20 minutes, and I was outside their main door when I first got in line.
I paid $ 5 extra to go into the Van Gogh exhibit they had on display. This line took a lot longer, likely around 30 – 40 minutes. They were controlling the amount of people let in at once to enhance the experience. However, even with this wait time, when I got inside there were droves of people, still making it hard to appreciate the work or timeline of Van Gogh’s wife, as someone was always walking in front of you or immediately by your side.
Overall, I’d go back to the museum, as there is a lot to see, and it’s hard to see it all in one visit! It would be a particularly good rainy day activity.

Line during weekend can be pretty long, it’s 2016 people. Everyone has access to internet these days right? Get online, buy your ticket so you can skip all that nonsense.
Had a lunch date at the Art Institute and checked out some Van Gogh drawings, looks pretty small from the outside but there is plenty of stuff for you to see. I think we walked around for good 2 – 3 hours and we got to see about ¼ items that were displayed. I definitely will be back!

Pro tip: if you’re an IL resident, it’s free Thursdays after 5pm!
Another pro tip: if you’re a Bank of America credit card holder, it’s free on the 1^st weekend of the month thanks to the Museums on Us program.
Another tip: If you’re a UChicago student it’s always free!
Even if you have to pay full price (I think it’s $ 25 for adults) it is WORTH EVERY DOLLAR AND MORE!!!
I absolutely adore this place. It gives me comfort and joy, the paintings here are like old friends whom I visit every few months or so. I thank god every time I go for this beautiful institution that has graced the art scene in Chicago!
If there’s one thing you have to do it is the Impressionist wing on the second floor when you ascend the grand staircase. Stare at the huge pointillistic painting featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day off «A Sunday on La Grande Jatte» by Georges Seurat, marvel at Monet’s water lilies and haystacks, appreciate Renoir’s portraits. This place houses once of the largest, most spectacular collection of impressionist paintings in the entire world. I rank this place the same as the Claude Monet museum in Paris and the Musee d’Orsay (all three are #1 in my heart!)
Gents, bring your dates to impress them and show that soft side. Ladies, go on an adventure with your friends here.
The Art Institute often has fantastic exhibitions like Van Gogh’s bedrooms (all 3 versions next to each other for the first time in America? *SWOON*), Jackson Pollack (that man is a genius), and more!

Be prepared for the most awe-​inspiring magical moments once ventured inside. Even if you are an Art lover or not, this place will inspire you. Purely EPIC!
During my college life, I had to go through Art appreciation class, where it wasn’t appealing enough to hear about and to see in a book. But I was determined to make it to Chicago one day to see the amazing paintings, sculptures and more come to life. This museum hosts most of the prolific and one-​of-​a-​kind exhibits in America. From byzantine to post impressionism, modern and more. there is something for everyone to like and enjoy here. Also if you are a super MOVIE buff. you will take note that Ferris, Sloane and Cameron had part of their awesome day off here. :-)
The staff is very protective of the precious pieces here, so please respect their positions. I was impressed with how they do cover all the areas to make sure no tampering is going on. The institute is very well organized by timeline, artists, and genres. There is definitely WAY TOO MUCH to see here, so be sure to plan your day accordingly. You can most likely hang out here for about 3 – 4 hours especially if you love art, maybe hang out longer.
Perks: Location is surrounded by the Loop area in Chicago and across from Millennium Park. Museum has a coffee shop and restaurant inside. Coat Check on the lower level if needed. Be sure to check on website, there may be a charge. Awesome gift shop too!
KNOW before you GO: Before you pay for general admission, check with the staff on specials. We went with a combo admission deal of both the Art Institute and the Skydeck which saved us a few $$ on admission for that visit. Also note the rules on photography with cameras and smart phones. They do watch out for that.
Awesome TIP: Behind the map/​guide, is a suggested list of things to see if you are short on time. It lists the most popular and probably best exhibits and highlights to definitely check out!
OverALL: A TOTAL MUST SEE if you are visiting Chicago. This place will not disappoint! Make it an artistic day and enjoy a little escape!

This place is huge with three building and three floors. It got a little confusing navigating even with a map. There was pieces and sculptures from many time periods.
I went on a Friday morning/​afternoon and it was packed. I got the CityPass and purchased access to the Van Gogh Bedrooms exhibit for additional $ 5. The Van Gogh exhibit was really busy and was crowded, but it was cool to walk through and see the three versions of Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings.
I was very interested in the Photography section since I haven’t been to an art museum that had a permanent exhibit to photography. But I was disappointed with the selection.
The most interesting section was the modern/​contemporary art. Most of everything else o simply walked through and stopped to read the description at a few pieces.
It was frustrating when I had to throw away my bottle of water and bag of mixed nuts (which was unopened and costed $ 16!) because they did not accept food items at bag check. The reason I’m checking in my bag including food items is to keep the art exhibits clean! But oh well, the art museum made me waste food, it was not my choice. And no I was not about to down a bag of nuts.

The Art Institute is a pretty great institute. Just came for the Van Gogh bedroom special exhibit and they did an excellent job walking you through his history, artistic approach and context.
I broke my foot so had to have a wheelchair (complimentary) and staff were great helping us get around. Helps to have a wheelchair — gets you to the front of a lot of things, especially on a super busy/​crowded/​packed Saturday morning!
Plus, members lounge is very nice. I got the kale smooth and that was excellent. I would totally come back to get that again.

You can spend hours in here. The art museum is part of the City Pass. The front façade is magnificent with the two majestic lions. The museum itself is so expansive! I mean my feet really hurt after awhile because it’s just so big! Rooms after room of impressive collections, carefully curated. It felt infinite. I was fortunate there was a Van Gogh exhibit surrounding the Bedroom series. Amazing to see his work in person. All of the art is wrapped in the beautiful architecture. Mesmerizing and a bit surreal to visit. Cheers to all the art appreciation classes I took in school.

In my opinion, the cream of the corp at AIC is the contemporary art and sculpture collection. It is an impressive, diverse and mind-​blowingly large collection. I wish I knew this ahead of time, and had gone straight to the few speciality sections.
The floor plan of the building is beyond confusing. The only elevator that rises to the 3^rd level is the one nearest the west entrance. However, using the same elevator to go to the 2^nd level make you walk through a hallway. A more efficient way is to enjoy the collections on the 1^st level first, then walk up the stairs on the east end to get to the 2^nd level. Furthermore, based on the unhelpful instructions of the staffs on floor, I went from 1^st level to Lower level back to the 2^nd level to find a working washroom.
Line Up — Note that there was a short line up even for CityPass and online ticket pre-​purchase holders on the Sunday morning that we visited. I didn’t check how long the line up was for the regular admission entrance, which is located on a different side of the building.
I am happy with the experience. I will revisit AIC next time I visit Chicago.

Located right in the heart of all the touristy action & Loop, the Art Institute of Chicago has some excellent exhibits that are showcased incredibly with staff that is incredibly friendly and is a must visit for any tourist in Chicago (or any Chicago Resident).
With free Thursday evenings for Illinois residents (from 5PM to 8PM) you really have no excuse not to visit the the Art Institute. They have art to cater to any taste: sculpture, paintings, furniture, modern, …old. Can you tell how cultured I am? Anyway, looking at the art is always fun, I like how in some of the exhibits you can get very close to the art (without touching of course) without it being behind glass.
The last few times I’ve been, while walking around the area with the sculptures we’ve had staff come up to us and talk about some of the sculptures. It was informative, interesting, and allowed us to look more closely at some of the sculptures in a way I wouldn’t have before.
Also have to give a shout out to Makari at the coat check who helped my friend stuff her coat into her backpack for the $ 1 coat check.

We came for the Van Gogh, but stayed for EVERYTHING ELSE!
The special exhibitions cost an extra $ 5 and (sacrelige to say this out loud) I’m not actually sure that, for me, the Van Gogh exhibit was worth it… but the rest of the museum is absolutely worth the price of admission (as long as you are an art lover…).
I knew nothing of what to expect beforehand. This was my first visit to the Art Institute. And it left a great impression! The Chagall windows were a pleasant surprise, the contemprary and modern art was fun and engaging, the classical Euorpean art was gorgeous! I could have easily spent another hour or two there, exploring all the rooms and levels! The museum seems to go on forever, with room after room and wing after wing. I hope to have the chance to revisit again!

Wonderful, wonderful museum. The day we went they had the Van Gogh special exhibit for a few dollars more on top of your standard admission. «The Room» and many of Van Gogh’s self portraits were on display. Beatiful.
It’s a multi leveled building — bright, modern, quiet, and thought provoking. Numerous genres of Art displayed — too many to mention, but you get the idea. It’s a great visit and was my favorite of the 3 museums/​attractions we visited during our visit (the other 2 being the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum).

This place is a maze. Their maps of the venue were ridiculously confusing but thank god there is a helpful gossipy staff security members in almost every section for the museum. Sometimes perusing the artwork was a little boring but the lively security gossip was pretty fun to listen to. With that said, the Van Gogh exhibit was awesome. I wish the Starry Night painting was there but his bedroom sets (all 3) was a nice surprise. Felt they went above and beyond to help you get into the artists mindset and life and really help you connect with their exhibits.
The American Gothic was pretty cool to see in person but not sure why I was the only one around looking at it. Either way, its a great way to easily kill 4 hours and I still don’t think I went to every section (because I got lost trying to figure out where I was most of the time).
Maybe its best to get lost in a museum, but then again I had dinner reservations so sometimes it isn’t for a foodie like me.

Espectacular! vale cada peso de lo que cuesta, la exposición permanente es divina, les recomiendo muchísimo la exposición permanente, tienen obras de arte realmente conmovedoras.
Lo malo es que hay tanto pero tanto que realmente para apreciar como se debe uno necesita varias visitas, (o instalarse tera bites extras de memoria).
En la parte de abajo hay unas mini maquetas, donde uno puede ver el estilo de casa de cada uno de los Estados Americanos.

The impressionist gallery alone is worth five stars. The modern wing of the museum is also fantastic. There are of course many other genres that observed but it was the aforementioned that wowed me.
This is a world class museum.

The Art Institute has the best special exhibitions. A few years back I went to the Picasso exhibit, but recently I went to the Van Gogh exhibition on opening day. The Bedrooms exhibition for Van Gogh was breathtaking. I was’t sure what to expect since the main focus was going to be on just three paintings. But I was pleasantly surprised it encompassed much more work than I expected. Each additional piece of art and letter served as timelines and snapshots into this small period of Van Gogh’s life.
The overall collections at the Art Institute are impeccable. The organization of items, the research, the curating, and the friendly staff makes this museum one of the best in the entire nation.
For those going to the Art Institute at least three times a year, I completely recommend getting a yearly membership. It pays for itself and you get to bring a guest for free, even to special exhibits!

I loved the Museum and the people that work there are amazingly helpful. We started off with some modern art than the older European art and photography. The rooms are massive! And its impossible to do the museum in a day. I think it would take a couple days to finish the museum. We went on a Friday and the museum gets packed. We didn’t get a guide and I think it would honestly hold us back from the pace we were moving. We were trying to take it all in but it’s so much and you want to appreciate it all. I didn’t take any pictures inside the museum because I felt like that would take away from my personal experience. I did however take a pic of the outside. It’s a wonderful museum and must do if your in the area.

I had seen the Art Institute of Chicago on the tour guides and between the other things to see I thought I would add it to the list as an addendum, something I’d walk through briskly on the way to see other things. I was wrong. There was so much to see that I ended up forgoing the rest of the day and stayed hours upon hours wandering the halls just trying to soak it all in.
There is just huge variety of art from eclectic sources. Asian, European, Native American, African, American, Classical, Modern, you name it, this place is enormous. I got the audio tour (extra $ 7 dollars) but it was worth it, it gave a nice background to the pieces that had something recorded for the audio tour, which is to say, all the main pieces at least. Even though I did spend the good part of a day here there was a recommended «1 hour» route that takes you through to see the 10 most famous pieces that they have in their collection. Nice, but I would really recommend you allocate more time to see more of the treasures this place has to offer. It’ll be a quiet serene day of walking and admiration. Perfect in my book. Chicago is lucky to have a place like this.

What a wonderful art museum! It’s easily one of the best in the world and it’s always a pleasure to visit here. The collections are amazing and have paintings from some of the most famous artists in history. You’ll definitely recognize many paintings here and it’s a must-​see when visiting Chicago!

A true world-​class museum. My favorite is the Impressionist collection. The Art Institute houses the most important piece of French art outside of Paris: «A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte» by Georges Seurat; the title has been shorted in recent years to, «A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.» I think seeing this masterpiece is worth the admission price ($ 20-​$ 25) alone.
Hot tip: BANK OF AMERICA cardholders get free admission to the museum the first full weekend of every month.

The collection here was AMAZING. I was so excited about this. There were endless mazes after endless mazes of amazing works of art. David Hockney, Picasso, Miro, Dali, Magritte, Pollock, Matisse, Gaugin, O’Keefe, Degas, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh… It just goes on and on. Just when you think you’re done seeing the best, there’s more!
The building itself is modern and beautiful as well.
In comparing this place to some of the art museums accessible to me in San Diego, I die a little inside.

My favorite art genres are surrealism and impressionism so when I found out that the AI houses one of the more impressive French impressionist collections in America, I was excited. Although the entrance fee is high (like 20-​ish dollars?) I do think it’s worth a visit if you’re in Chicago. You can gaze upon Manets, Cezannes, Monets and Renoirs to your heart’s content. Of course, you can’t forget the gigantic Seurat painting: the famous Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte. Incredible to see up close. There’s even a pretty good collection of Van Goghs here as well!
Unfortunately I spend so much time in the 19^th century European art wing that I didn’t even get a good chance to meander through the new modern art building, so I will certainly make time to come back here and see more. Highly recommend!

Any time you can feel like Ferris Beuller and see American Gothic, it’s going to be a good day.
As the myriad of reviewers before me have said, this is an absolute must see for anybody traveling to Chicago. The breadth and depth of art that is available here is pretty incomparable to anything outside of the other monumental art museums of the world.
I’m definitely not smart enough to understand modern art, however if you are it’s likely that you’ll enjoy this museum. We did however enjoy the tiny houses and tiny rooms exhibit where people have belt model replicas of rooms from just about every time period. The only thing I would like to see added here is somebody doing a replica of a Neanderthal home. Well it’s simple, I feel like it would be a perfect addition to this impressive display!
The Ferris Bueller picture is very prominently displayed on the second floor and well I don’t remember the type of art that surrounded it, walking around that entire floor was very impressive. It made it so even a simpleton like myself could appreciate the beauty that was being displayed.
American Gothic was the other picture that we felt like we needed to see, and that thing is deep within the museum. The instructions included walk down a flight of stairs walk across the room go up some stairs go forward turn right walk down the hallway turn left it’s at the end of the hallway. It’s just best to ask somebody, and even though its small its definitely iconic and worth seeing. It’s a great shout out to Eldon Iowa that boasts the home within the picture, and for all those interested, houses a lady who bakes pies on the weekends in the summer. All art aside, it’s totally worth going to as the lemon pie is totally boss!
Definitely not the least expensive museum you go to, and will definitely try to sell you on the family pass. The coat check is $ 1 per item and we found it was nice to show my wife’s coat inside of mind to save the dollar!
A must see for anybody regardless of your interest in art. Has been voted one of the best museums in the world for many years, & I suspect it will continue to be!

Great exhibits but a little overwhelming and the crowds are out of control. The line to check in our check out for coat check was longer that the ticket line. The folks who work there need a little training update on customer service.
I am more of fan of modern and contemporary art but could leave out the religious, Greek/​Roman pieces… just not for me.
It was kind of thrilling to see famous paintings so we really enjoyed that!

One of the main things that measures the greatness of a city is the quantity and quality of its museums. With that in mind, The Chicago Art Institute is one of the greatest art museums in the world — and its collection is one of the best known by the most people.
Why is its collection so recognizable?
Because in the late 1960s/​early 1970s a very popular board game was released (yes — there used to be board games) called MASTERPIECE. In it there were flashcards with color reproductions of paintings on them, and the player who guessed the most «names» of the paintings and their «artists» and the «period» in which they were painted, Won.
And every single painting in the MASTERPIECE game was a reproduction of a work from the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
What a brilliant way to introduce entire families to great works of art — because after playing this game a few times — every player knew every painting in the MASTERPIECE game by heart. From Kansas to Alaska to Maine; from Hawaii to Texas to Virginia — hundreds of thousands of Americans of all stations and levels of education knew these works of art on-​sight, whether they had been to the Art Institute or not.
Obviously the game designers chose to have all of the flashcards be based on the paintings from a single museum because the licensing agreement was all inclusive with that one institution — instead of having dozens of different agreements with tens of unassociated museums from all over the world.
And this contract of convenience had a brilliant side effect: because it presented the many Paintings in the «Context» of a single collection — which left the MASTERPIECE game (in comparison to all other text books or flashcard sets bent on teaching Art History), the only learning tool that focused on a single museum’s collection — so that playing the game was like visiting the museum itself. Then to package that learning tool as a fun family game, where the player who knew the most about each painting, Won — was brilliant. Too bad the game is so hard to get now.
As far as the collection itself goes — the brightest constellations in its abundant star-​cluster of works are its Impressionist and Post Impressionist collections. And the reason for this is — Dry Goods.
So how did Dry Goods lead to the Art Institutes greatness?
Here’s how: Back in 1852, businessman Potter Palmer opened up a dry goods store on State Street in Chicago. This eventually led to a Dry-​Goods-​Empire and Palmer becoming exceedingly rich. He built a hotel, he built a mansion, he established a university, and he married a well-​educated woman 49 years his junior named Bertha Honere. Needless to say she didn’t marry him for his virility.
Thus; while old-​man Palmer was plugging away at his dry-​goods empire, young Bertha was travelling all over Europe buying dresses and furniture and silverware and other European markings of the civilized upper class, in order to lavish her and her husbands mansions and buildings — and thus increase the perception of Chicago’s «Nouveau riche» as being Worldly and sophisticated.
Bertha also purchased Hundreds of Paintings. Potter Palmer may not have agreed with her choices but he knew that she had impeccable taste and also a great eye for undiscovered upcoming painters. So Bertha bought what she liked — and Potter paid for it. Luckily, what she liked most were the then unknown painters of Paris like Monet (she bought 30 paintings from him), Renoir, Lautrec, Seurat (she bought his masterpiece «Sunday in the Park»), Manet, Gauguin, Mary Cassette (she bought more Cassette paintings than any other collector in the world), Degas, and of course Vincent Van Gogh.
Soon Bertha and Potter Palmer had the most comprehensive collection of late 19^th Century French anti-​establishment Paintings on Earth. And when the 1893 Columbia Exhibition came to Chicago (AKA: the 1893 World’s Fair), Bertha Palmer and other Chicago art collectors and philanthropists raced to build and stock The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts (later named The Art Institute of Chicago), on Michigan Avenue (its present location). Palmer donated her collection to the museum as did many other wealthy Chicago collectors, like Charles Hutchinson (who also headed up the University of Chicago)
Back then there was such a sense of civic pride among the wealthy Chicago elite that it was an honor to help Chicago become «Great» in the eyes of the world. And it did.
Today, the Art Institute of Chicago houses one of the greatest collections of Impressionist, Post-​Impressionist, Modern European (Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Modigliani, Picasso, Giacometti, Dali, Miro…), and early 20^th Century American Art — of any museum on the planet.
There are also exceptional collections of Asian Art, Islamic Art, Glass, Renaissance & Medieval Paintings, European Armor, and Classic Marbles. But it is the original collection of paintings gathered by Palmer that has set the direction of this World Class Museum.

Great museum — comparable to the New York’s Metropolitan — at the heart of town.
Big, clean and with a wide range of international art: China, Japan, Mesopotamia, American, Spanish, French, Indian, African, …
The people working in the museum is friendly and they are always ready to answer questions.
The museum has two cafes and 2 restaurants, and a lounge for the museum members.
Price for a general adult ticket: $ 25
Price for students: $ 19
Price for Chicago & Illinois residents: around $ 16

I always love the chance to come here. A world-​class museum right in the heart of Chicago! There isn’t much to say, except take a couple of hours and enjoy some amazing art and feel some feelings.
Tips:
1. Parking is expensive – take the CTA if you can.
2. Free for Illinois residents every Thursday from 5−8pm!
3. Free days throughout the year – check the calendar.
4. Make a plan, it will be impossible to see it all.
5. There is a coat check. $ 2 I think.
6. An hour before the museum closes, general admission cost goes from $ 25 to $ 15.
7. If it’s nice outside, go check out Millennium Park right next door!
8. Wear comfortable shoes cause you’ll be walking a good amount.
9. Audio tours available.
10. Enjoy a great museum!

What’s not to love about the Art Institute, especially on a sunny cold Chicago afternoon. Went to see the New Contemporaries, which was terrific. That said, not a visit goes by when I don’t try to find our stumble across some unexplored nook containing a visually stunning, informative educational treasure.
Today’s treat started with stumbling across «Homegrown» some wonderful representations of SAIC artists who attended school primarily in the 1930’s — 50’s. Wonderful art deco mid century modern and other inspired styles.
Today’s highlight though was the first featuring of AIC’s collection of Japanese Buddhist Kesa (pronounced like quesadilla, without the «dilla») exhibit. In didn’t know anything about Kesa’s or any other type of vestments before visiting, and now I do. The highlight of this visit was Callihan Aduzzi a museum employee assigned to the exhibit who could not be more helpful, sincere and charming.
Become a member and enjoy their lovely lounge.

After walking all day and night in Chicago it’s nice to relax, see some art, and do some MORE FREAKING WALKING!
Sweet Zeus there’s no end to the walking in Chicago. If you go with my friend, who loves art, you will want to see specific pieces which happens to be on the 4 corners of the Art Institute! So get ready to walk and climb stairs.
Tip: I recommend you buy your ticket in ADVANCE and have a copy of it with you either in paper or on your phone because we were able to bypass the general admission line and use the fast line. We didn’t know this, we just took a chance and asked one of the line guys. Keep in mind we bought our tickets across the street at the drug store on our phones. So it makes ZERO sense to NOT do this. We also bought the general admission ticket and NOT the more expensive fast admission. Maybe we just got lucky and bypassed the line? Who knows.
Anyways its an art gallery so I’ll shut up and let you get to my pictures.
Safe travels!

Must go museum! One of the best that I’ve been, aside from Louvre.
I hate museums. My bf had to literally drag me here, well… wasn’t so hard when the weather was crazy with freezing rain hitting us sideways. Perfect place to get shelter and get lost in art for hours and hours.
We waited in line to purchase, which wasn’t so bad but still out the doors. It’s $ 25 per person general admission, unless you’re a student and it’s $ 19. Museum doesn’t allow umbrellas so you have to get in a line to do coat check, which was $ 1 per item.
Upon entering, there’s 4 levels, with LL being one. I’ve been here before and though it was similar, they had lots of special exhibits to see today. You can see through my pics that I actually really enjoyed it and found lots of art work that I liked.
Just note that there’s all kind of sensors and high security all around. I learned that you can’t take videos in the museum… so only take pics. Also, there’s lots of seating everywhere to rest your feet, which was a plus!
It took us around 3 to 4 hours to go through all the exhibits and I thought it was pretty clever of them to put the most famous ones at the very end or kind of hidden so that everyone goes through all the rooms to find it. Though well constructed, the map is a bit confusing and had trouble finding the impressionism room and American Gothic painting. Best way to find impressionism room is to take the elevator on the right wing and go to the 2^nd floor. American Gothic is on the second floor of American art wing, so don’t overlook the stairs when you first enter.
Overall, really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend it, even for those that think museums are boring like me.
(Side note, I would note that the staff could have been more generous when it came to exiting… while we were getting ourselves ready to hit the blizzard weather outside we were being yelled at for standing in front of the door. I guess now that we payed, there’s no need to be nice… Staffs are not so friendly. Oh and why is there even a donation box? We pay $ to get in…)

An amazing museum set in the heart of downtown Chicago. The museum itself is beautiful and is a wonderful place to spend the day. The artwork is incredible and you could easily lose track of time walking through the extensive galleries. This impressive museum is state of the art and you won’t want to miss it! Afterwards you can walk out and stroll through Millennium Park as it’s a great place to take your family and friends.
Northwestern students get free admission with their Wildcard ID, but for all others it’s still worth a visit!

The Charles Ray exhibition takes full advantage of all that extra space the new modern wing affords. The explanations and stories behind the works on display make them so much more compelling.
The most vivid example is ‘Hinoki’. At first glance, it appears to be a gigantic debarked tree trunk. Instead, it’s a carved and assembled replica of a fallen oak tree. The original was cut into pieces then transported to a studio. Fiberglass molds were made from the pieces. Those were then shipped to Japan and expert carvers spent years carving a replica in cypress. (Hinoki is the Japanese word for cypress.) The pieces were then assembled to produce the gallery-​filling work on display.
The Art Institute is an encyclopedic museum and it holds many iconic works. If you don’t know where they are, just follow the cell phone trail where you’ll find folks taking selfies in front of their favorite Van Gogh or that famous rural couple in ‘American Gothic’. Like any great art museum, this place gets packed. If you want some alone time with your favorite paintings, map out your route and get here when the doors open.

Uno de los mejores museos que visité en mi vida. Imperdible. Vale la pena dedicarle todo el día.

Das Art Institute of Chicago gehört sicherlich zu den besten Museen der Welt. Es liegt an der South Michigan Avenue dort, wo gegenüber die Route 66 beginnt sich durch die Weite der USA zu hinzuziehen.
Im Museum steht man dann plötzlich vor den leibhaftigen Originalen von Edward Hoppers Nighthawks oder vor American Gothic von Grant Wood, das sich mir aus dem Vorspann von Desperate Housewives tief ins Unterbewusstsein eingeprägt hat. Mich haben vor allem auch die Fenster von Marc Chagall beeindruckt. Daneben gibt es natürlich jede Menge 1a Kunst und prosaischern Naturen sei der alte Handelssaal der Chicago Stock Exchange, der hier wieder aufgebaut wurde, empfohlen.

Als Kunstfreund kommt man am Art Institute nicht vorbei hier kann man Tage verbringen und all die großen Meister sehen, die man sonst nur von billigen Kunstdrucken kennt. Wenn ich nochmal nach Chicago komme, werde ich wieder einen Tag hier verbringen oder zwei :)

Selon moi, c’est le musée à visiter à Chicago!!!
Une collection de tout premier ordre!!!
Les amateurs de Desperate housewives découvriront une petite surprise!!!

What an astonishingly good art museum! The Art Institute was a real treat and an almost 5 hour visit only scratched the surface. We focused on my favorite, Impressionism and the special exhibit «Van Gogh’s Bedrooms».
Monet, Gaughin, Toulouse-​Latrec, Pissaro, Suerat, Degas, Manet, Renoir, I was in Impressionism heaven. Plus works by Rembrandt, Reubens, Turner, El Greco, Gainesborough, Titian, and their self-​described «Mona Lisa», Grant Wood’s «American Gothic» were all there to peruse and admire.
«Van Gogh’s Bedrooms» was a spectacular installation that offered a large number of Van Gogh’s works along with a timeline of his life’s travels and a timeline of his work along with several sketches of his starting at the tender age of 11. Many of these works I’d never seen and I’ve been to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam at least six times. They even had a furnished layout of what Van Gogh’s bedroom at the Yellow House in Arles looked like. The audio tour was well worth it and provided the in depth information that helped bring the exhibition alive.
The museum is laid out very well and the docents were very helpful.
This museum is a must-​see for any art lover. I only wish we had more time to see the Picassos, the Warhols, etc, from the modern era, and the furniture and porcelain collections, but that will happen the next time.
Like the Terminator, I’ll be back.