Looking for the best Art Institute of Chicago exhibits? We put together a list of some of the must-see art works at this world-class museum located in downtown Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.
by Bella DiMascio
- 15 TOP Exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago
- The Bedroom-Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
- Nighthawks-Edward Hopper, 1942
- A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-George Seurat, 1884, 1884/86
- American Gothic-Grant Wood, 1930
- Buddha Shakyamuni Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra)-Nagapattinam, Chola Period (12th century)
- The Old Guitarist-Pablo Picasso, late 1903-early 1904
- The Great Wave-Katsushika Hokusai, 1830-33
- Field Armor for Man and Horse-South German, Nuremberg, c. 1520
- Hartwell Memorial Window-Design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, made by Tiffany Studios
- Water Lilies-Claude Monet, 1906
- Sky Above Clouds IV-Georgia O’Keeffe, 1965
- Liz #3-Andy Warhol 1963
- Nightlife-Archibald John Motley Jr., 1943
- Hero Construction-Richard Hunt, 1958
- Face Mask (Ngady Mwaash)-Late 19th-mid 20th century, Kuba
- Chicago Art Institute FAQ
- Curent Exhibitions and Events
- Looing for More Art in the City n The Chicago?
15 TOP Exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago
This is one of the Windy City’s best museums and it’s here that you’ll find a treasure trove of modern and contemporary art, a vast collection of impressionist works, painting and sculpture collections unlike anything you’ve seen before, and more.
If you only have a day, or even a few hours, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which artworks you most want to see, so we’ve created the ultimate list of must-see famous artworks that are well worth visiting.
Follow us on this “essentials tour” of the Art Institute of Chicago so that when you visit the Art Institute, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for.
On Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, there’s a gem for art lovers of all ages called the Art Institute of Chicago. Use this guide to make sure you hit all of the highlights on your visit.
The Bedroom-
Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
This vivid impressionist work was painted by famous impressionist Vincent Van Gogh and it depicts his own bedroom at his first real home of his own in Arles, a town on France’s Mediterranean coast. He hoped his friends and fellow artists would join him there, so he decorated the house with his own art, including this painting of his bedroom, which he loved so much. He made three distinct versions, the other two of which are housed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and Van Gogh Museum of Amsterdam.
Nighthawks-
Edward Hopper, 1942
Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks captures the essence of an era, and even if you didn’t know it was painted in 1942, you’d still be able to tell that the painting depicts a late-night diner of the mid-century – and you’d probably guess the right decade.
This work is iconic and has become a statement piece about the loneliness of a big city, yet it maintains a slight nostalgic atmosphere.
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-
George Seurat, 1884, 1884/86
Perhaps most recognizable from the hit film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” A Sunday on La Grande Jatte is more than an iconic 80s movie clip. This is George Seurat’s largest work, which is only made more impressive when considering his method – Pointillism. In Pointillism, the painting is a sort of optical illusion where countless tiny dabs of paint are placed together to create unique hues and to create the image you see.
American Gothic-
Grant Wood, 1930
This is easily one of the most famous paintings of all time and it shows up frequently in pop culture, cementing its place among the most recognizable art pieces ever made.
American Gothic debuted at the Art Institute of Chicago where the American artist, Grant Wood, won prize money and fame for the piece. You might have thought the painting depicts a husband and wife, but was actually intended to be a father with his daughter, representing a positive view of rural values during the Great Depression.
Buddha Shakyamuni Seated in Meditation (Dhyanamudra)-
Nagapattinam, Chola Period (12th century)
When you look at an ancient piece of art and see how detailed, precise, and intentional it looks, it certainly leaves an impression. The Buddha statue at the Art Institute of Chicago is no exception. This large statue of the Buddha comes from southern India, in a coastal town called Nagapattinam where Buddhism flourished and monasteries attracted monks from faraway places. This statue is a reminder of how skillful sculpting stretches back centuries and how even then people flocked to see great artistic achievement.
The Old Guitarist-
Pablo Picasso, late 1903-early 1904
When you see this painting, you’ll understand why this era of Picasso’s work was called his Blue Period. Quite literally, Picasso focused on cool blue hues and flat forms, creating a sort of miserable and, well, blue looking collection of artwork. The Old Guitarist is a sympathetic work, where Picasso expresses empathy for the penniless as he relates from his own personal experiences with poverty in the years prior. You’ll find this in the museum’s modern wing.
The Great Wave-
Katsushika Hokusai, 1830-33
Even if you don’t know much about it, this painting is one of the most recognizable in the world. This print is a masterpiece of Hokusai and comes from the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” which is visible beyond the titular “Great Wave.” The massive success of this print contributed to the massive growth in popularity of landscapes that arose in the following decades.
Field Armor for Man and Horse-
South German, Nuremberg, c. 1520
As Europe transitioned from the Medieval Period into the Renaissance, things changed quite a bit, including armor. The plate armor became more ornamental, shifting away from the strict function-over-form mentality of the Middle Ages. This display showcases some of that more ornamental armor from the 16th century. The armors for both the men and horses were made in Nuremberg, Germany and the display was completed with recreated clothing in 2017 using period designs.
Hartwell Memorial Window-
Design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, made by Tiffany Studios
In many ways, the Art Institute of Chicago is a work of art all its own and the Hartwell Memorial Window demonstrates that beautifully. The window itself includes 48 panels with glass of numerous types and colors. Tiffany Studios made the window as a commission from Mary Hartwell, who wanted to honor her husband Frederick Hartwell. The glass comes together to depict a beautiful natural scene, inspired by the view from Frederick Hartwell’s family home in New Hampshire.
Water Lilies-
Claude Monet, 1906
With the second-largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist works in the world, it’s no wonder this list of Art Institute of Chicago must-sees continues to include impressionism classics. Water Lilies is perhaps Claude Monet’s most famous works, depicting the water lilies in the pond at his home in Giverny, France.
If you love the impressionism era, there’s plenty more where this came from, of both Monet’s work (including his Stacks of Wheat series) and his fellow impressionists, like Edgar Degas and Pierre Auguste Renoir.
Sky Above Clouds IV-
Georgia O’Keeffe, 1965
This Art Institute of Chicago Artwork is widely viewed as an essential icon of the museum. For that reason – and because of the sheer size of the painting – Sky Above Clouds IV by Georgia O’Keeffe has not left the Institute since its arrival in 1983. This painting is truly massive, spanning the entire 24-foot width of O’Keeffe’s garage. This is the fourth of a series of seven paintings dubbed ‘Cloudscapes,’ that capture her experience on airlines during the mid-century.
Liz #3-
Andy Warhol 1963
No matter what the subject is, an Andy Warhol artwork is iconic and unmistakable. This time, though, the subject is famous actress Elizabeth Taylor, famously known by Liz, hence the name of the piece. The image of Liz Taylor comes from a publicity photograph, but Warhol transformed it into a work of colorful pop art using the silkscreen process. There are a dozen other Liz Taylor portraits by Warhol, each with their own high-contrast jewel tone color scheme.
Nightlife-
Archibald John Motley Jr., 1943
Native Chicagoan, Archibald John Motley Jr. was a graduate of the School at the Art Institute. Through his art, he showed off the vibrant, lively, and exciting African American culture of the city, often painting young, sophisticated city folk out for a night on the town. This particular work depicts a popular cabaret in Bronzeville, a neighborhood in Chicago’s south side.
Hero Construction-
Richard Hunt, 1958
The sculptor of Hero Construction is a Chicago local and the sculpture itself was created only a year after his graduation from the School of the Art Institute. It’s made up of all different kinds of objects from all over, compounded together into a form that represents a hero of our modern times, inspired by the mythology and hero statues of eras past. This modern hero is resilient and humble as the challenges of the past, present, and future present themselves.
Face Mask (Ngady Mwaash)-
Late 19th-mid 20th century, Kuba
This facemask, called Ngady Mwaash, comes from the Kuba people in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This intensely patterned mask represents the ideal woman, honoring her roles in Kuba life, but is worn only by men. In fact, the trio of masks from which Ngady Mwaash comes, tell a story of the Kuba Kingdom’s origins and each character in the story, whether a man or a woman, is played by a man.
Chicago Art Institute FAQ
How many artworks are at Chicago’s Art Institute?
There are 2,382 paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago, but overall, nearly 300,000 works of art call the Art Institute home, including sculptures, bronzes, masks, and more.
Where is the Art Institute of Chicago located?
The Art Institute of Chicago is located in Grant Park. Its address is 111 S Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL.
How much is admission at the Art Institute of Chicago?
Admission at the Art Institute of Chicago is $32 for adults, and $26 for seniors, students, and teens (14-17). Children and members enter for free. You can bundle and save with Chicago Citypass, which includes discounted admission to destinations such as Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Skydeck Chicago, Adler Planetarium, and more.
What are some famous past exhibits from the Art Institute of Chicago?
Some of the recent past exhibitions at the museum include the Andy Warhol Portfolios: A Life in Pop; Van Gogh and the AvantGarde and Salvador Dali, the Image Disappears.
Curent Exhibitions and Events
Remedios Varo Museum Exhibition Runs Through November 27, 2023
This marks the Art Institute’s inaugural solo exhibition dedicated to a female Surrealist painter and an artist actively working in Mexico. The exhibit features 20 paintings created in Mexico from 1955 until her death in 1963.
Looing for More Art in the City n The Chicago?
Visit these Chicago museums and parks to find public art exhibits in Chicago.
- Museum of Contemporary Art – Gary Simmons Public Enemy runs through October 1, 2023
- Museum of Science and Industry – Pompeii the Exhibition runs through September 2023.
- Field Museum – Don’t miss their Kings of Europe Exhibit that runs through January 28, 2024.
Did you know that the School of Art Institute has an Artists in Residence program? The school’s exhibitions and public programs are a valuable part of the Chicago art community.
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