The Modern Wing – Art Institute of Chicago

I was dissapointed with the architecture and with the display of the art works. I can’t believe that on the third floor they rely on daylight as the key light source to show these very important works! The lobby reminds me of a Hyatt Hotel.

I’ve always liked the Modern Wing but I never loved it. (I’m reviewing the space here, not the collections, which are superb.) As for the space, the main hall always seemed too long and narrow and too high, and the galleries seemed too small to house much of modern and contemporary art – you have to visit Dia in Beacon NY to see the right space for showing this art.
Then along comes the Charles Ray show and all my preconceptions are dashed. This magnificent, ravishing show is housed in the second floor galleries which have been denuded of everything but bare walls, small (but informative) wall texts, and the amazing, monumental works of Charles Ray. Once these galleries are cleared of interior walls, partitions, benches and so forth, you see how large and spacious they actually are. In this show you have to walk large distances to go from one art work to another, almost like taking a pilgrimage and approaching a statue of the Buddha, and then double back to read the texts. There’s room to think and as a result your thoughts expand.
It doesn’t hurt that the bare white walls are juxtaposed against the windows that face north, where you see the beauty of Millennium Park, the Lurie Garden and the Pritzker Pavilion. This is a show not to miss, a show to remember, and the Modern Wing is the perfect venue for it. The Art Institute has pulled out all the stops for this show, and the sculptures couldn’t be better situated for viewing, engaging, and contemplating.

A world class institution gets an airy, bright, shiny new wing: perfection. Some of the best views of Millennium Park are from the various vantage points including the roof. Most importantly: the art, a revolving collection of some of the great masterpieces of the last century, and a sampling of the masterpieces of the future. The modern art is the measure of any great institution, and clearly this new building for the art puts them in the top tier. The art is the focus and the building is the sleek support system.

Went here for AFTER DARK James Ensor ¹⁄₂₃.
It was definitely a great space to throw a cocktail party and overall a really good experience. They had actors in character to fit the masquerade theme of the evening and they were great.
On the downside, you buy drink tickets in advance, you wait in the bar line, and they ran out of domestic beer at 3 of the 4 bars. Then they offered no solution except to check another bar.
The AFTER DARK event isn’t just for artsy people, if you like getting dressed up and pretending to be trendy, like me, I’d highly recommend an AFTER DARK event with friends. You’ll need to book your tickets early though, as the event sells out every time.

I’m a member of the Art Institute, and it was with great anticipation that I entered the new Modern Wing for the first time. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s truly magnificent. Nothing I could say would possibly do it justice. I encourage you to take a free docent tour and let an expert introduce you to this Chicago masterpiece. I’ve returned many times with family and friends, and to attend special exhibits. My only suggestion is that the AIC make the directions a little cleaner… visitors often seem unclear about how to navigate this vast space.

We attended the free family day Indian Festival «Diwali «event held at the Art Institute over the weekend. They had a lot of fun cultural events such as dance, diya painting, 3 D imaging etc. Best of all Kids play free in the kids play area every weekend!

When you think of modern art sometimes you think of spaghetti strings put together to make it look like a make shift tuba or something like that.
This is the art institute. You know they are going to class it up.
I have been here a number of times just to check out some new stuff on a Sunday or Thursday afternoon right after work or on a date.
Unlike the MCA they dont just put anything in here .
Every few months or so they have a «after dark» event that takes place mostly on Friday Nights after 9 and lasts till 12. My only complaint is that it should be a little longer and not just three hours.
At that party you will find young professional single people between the ages of 25 and 48 or people on dates.
You wont feel out of place if you are older than 24 years old like at the «first fridays» event at the MCA.
I once was there last year where they had a henry the eighth theme going on and people were wearing costumes from the 1500’s. It was pretty cool considering there was a DJ as well.
If you do go to the AFTER DARK party and you are a guy, this is not one of those places that you should wear torn jeans, a wife beater or things like that. It’s a classy place. keep it in mind.

Kids play free in the kids play area!
One of the best Art Museums in the midwest! Centrally located, and well organized/​kept. It has many exhibits, including some rare Art that is sought after throughout the world.
The café in the museum is nice also, serving up some very good food and drinks. If you are a member, which is worthwhile getting — you get free access to the members lounge which has free coffee/​tea, and a nice sitting area.

The Art Institute of Chicago is epically awesome! My friend and I spent about three hours looking at some great art, always amazed at the different pieces we saw.
If I lived in Chicago I would buy a year pass and go all the time. I am sure there will always be something new to check out, especially with the traveling exhibits. It would also be cool to check out if you are bored some random afternoon.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop!

Good for kids? Only if they fall outside of the bell curve for most kids. Still tis a lovely afternoon when with art. Take a free tour, it’s worth it. Unless you know something about art its all just paint inside of frames. Yet all art has a story and they often have intrigue and mental illness at the core. The painting may be the main idea but the brush strokes are where one finds the details… tis the reason.

A beautiful addition to the AIC. Definitely treat yourself to this section of the museum. However, I will say that some of the pieces really stretch the limits of what constitutes «art.»
Anyway, I digress, because there are some overwhelming works here that are a must-​see. Don’t be around when the museum is about to close, however, the guards get pretty pushy, and it’s a buzz-​kill to an otherwise enjoyable visit.

The building is bright and very white, having been designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano who is also responsible for the Pompidou Centre in Paris. While the Modern Wing is not as iconic as the Paris space, The Modern Wing provides exhibition space for the museum’s collection of 20^th– and 21^st-​century art. The building is large, so large in square feet that it makes the Art Institute the second largest art museum in the United States. But the scale is very human and personal and while I’m not a fan usually of such modern design, the wing is really awe-​inspiring.
The building contains the museum’s collections of modern European painting and sculpture, as well as contemporary art, architecture and design pieces, and photography. The scope and quality of these collections, not to mention the quantity of art on display, is nothing but extraordinary. It’s obvious that the size of the building allows for a more comprehensive display of the collection than ever before and it shows.
The Modern Wing validates the Art Institute as one of the world’s great collections of modern and contemporary art as if the older building and its collection wasn’t enough for the museum to be considered world class. Lately, I’ve been thinking I can’t give anything five stars and then comes along the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. As good as it gets definitely applies!
Okay I’m reviewing the AI of Chicago but feel compelled to mention the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City. Why? Because while this is an incredible collection of artists, there’s not much work exhibited that isn’t also displayed by the same artists in Kansas City. And the addition to the museum in Kansas City is pretty extraordinary as well.
While a world class museum isn’t unexpected in Chicago, the fact that I’m reminded how good is the Nelson Atkins is awesome. So why wait in line at MOMA? Here in Chicago is a great space in a totally great museum. The result is proof that there’s great Modern Art in the Midwest.
I loved the Pollock «Greyed Rainbow», from 1953. Towards the end of Pollock’s career but still displaying and emphasizing the expressive power of the artist’s gestures, materials, and tools. Greyed Rainbow is one of the last great purely abstract paintings Pollock made before his death in 1956, and a quintessential example of action painting

Came here for the Picasso exhibit. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not what one would call «arty.» A friend was in town and she loves art so I figured I’d bite the bullet and see if I’ve become more cultured now that I’ve hit the big 3 – 0. Survey says? Eh, not quite.
That said, I can certainly appreciate the collection, the layout, the overall experience. In the future, I’ll probably take advantage of the free first weekend deal with Bank of America. For those times I want to feel a bit more erudite and sophisticated, I’ll certainly drop by.

Comparable to SF MOMA or NY MOMA. Great artists and exhibits everywhere. Make sure you have enough time to see everything if you are an art head. Definitely lots of fresh material and exhibits here.
PROTIP: Student discount is $ 17.00. Also complimentary entry if you have a BOFA card.

Seriously OMG-​worthy. Cannot say enough about it. I thought the main building was unparalleled in terms of collections, overall vibe, etc., but the modern building is a *brilliant* complement. It reminds me of the modern extention of the National Gallery in London: the über-​cool modern restaurant on the 3^rd floor, the more casual café «bridge» with great people-​watching below and — of course, most importantly, the sophistication of the art.
I loved it that the Picasso exhibit in the main building (nearly) literally bridged to the post-​Impressionist/​Expressionist/​Fauvres/​Modernist/​Cubist/​Abstract gallery in the modern building (housing even more Picassos!). Wow. Wow. Will go again and again. Amazing!

It’s shameful that I finally made it here after it’s been open for so long… but I’m glad that for Valentine’s Day, my wife and I took the day to enjoy the Art Institute!
To begin with, the Modern Wing is gorgeous… the design, layout, natural light, clean lines… everything about it just feels minimalist and comfortable. When most people think of art museums as older feeling with carpeting that’s dated back to the hotel eras of the 60s, the Modern Wing (aptly named) is the exact antithesis… use of classic woods and metals to create a clean comfortable space. Beautiful.
That being said, contemporary art has always been a toss up for me. Sometimes, the art makes sense… it hits you somewhere in your soul, and you understand what the artist was going through in their moment of creation. Most time, I look at the art and think «huh? If I had a child and gave him my wall to draw on, he/​she would’ve created something similar or better».
My wife and I were actually quite perplexed by one artist’s rendition of Greek war (I think?) and stared for at least 10 minutes trying to comprehend the insanity of this particular duet being art. I asked the docent/​guard «do you get this? Seeing this everyday, does it make any more sense?» He told me it was one of his favorite pieces, and that I needed to give it time for it to sink in. That the artwork was spectacular and one of his favorites. I swear he was pulling my leg… but he looked pretty damn serious.
Verdict: All in all, many neat pieces and probably just as many «I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean» pieces housed in a gorgeous new wing of the Art Institute. If you’re in the area, go for a spin and revel in some new thoughts. Perhaps you’ll see what I couldn’t…

Amazing

I would give the Modern Wing 3 stars, but +1 star because it’s FREE for Illinois residents the first and second Wednesdays of very month.
The exterior is beautiful and modern, but I would have given 3 stars because the collections inside were cool, but not too impressive. I understand that I just visited the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan in NYC not too long ago, but the Modern Wing still fell short of my lowered expectations for it. There wasn’t a lot to see — it usually takes me several hours to go through just the modern wing of museums, but I finished this one in under 2 hours.
The most famous piece is probably Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist. Beautiful in person, so definitely check it out!

The Modern Wing pushes my envelope, it is the brash part of my favorite museum in the whole world. I can walk through the rest of the Art Institute and know where to find my old favorites, remembering how they make me feel. They are a comfortable, beautiful way to make me remember why Art is like air, we just need it.
Then I come to The Modern Wing. It is not an organic intuitive experience for me. It pushes me, it sometimes confounds and irritates me. Then, every so often it will delight me. And that is just the building, onto the art.
I am trying to learn to better appreciate modern art. Sometimes I just embrace a new installation as a whole and I think I get it, I really get it. Then, there will be a more challenging piece. Thanks to the Modern Wing, I am slowly doing that. I am so pleased this wing is here and I now prefer to meet companions here than by the Lions. It is a glorious non familiar way to begin a visit and grow as a person.
Thanks, Modern Wing, one day I will «get» all your paintings.
Or not, because maybe that is part of the message of your collection.

I love art. So I come here quite often. I have been to the teacher work shops. They have a really nice learning center. I get my cpdu’s and have fun while doing it.
Also, the café and restaurant in this wing are worth visiting.
When your modern wing visit is complete, you can go on a walk on the bridge to the bean and see more fascinating art.