An Art Lovers’ Guide to Chicago

If you love art, Chicago, Illinois is a place you must visit. It is one of the world’s greatest hubs for artists and artistic expression. Although its globally renowned food scene, record-breaking high rises, music, and outlaw history take most of the limelight, its contributions to the world of art are equally inspiring. In the windy city, you’ll find museums, galleries, studios, and some of the best street art in the world that are all easy to reach.

First-time visitors love Chicago’s transportation system, which makes getting around the city very easy. With its subway and bus system, you can get from one point to another quickly, which will give you more time to spend at museums and galleries. Chicago is a walkable city, so you can also book an art-related walking tour. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to walk through the artistic neighborhoods of Pilsen, Bridgeport, and West Loop and even downtown’s hidden gems.

Below are some of Chicago’s most iconic and lesser-known destinations for art lovers. You’ll also find plenty of art off the beaten path on your own. If you look carefully and let the city take you in, you may find yourself in the presence of some of the city’s most influential artists or witness Chicago’s art world in full swing.

The Art Institute of Chicago

The institute was founded in 1893. Its location was first used for the World’s Columbian Exhibition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. It is located downtown, just a short walk from the city’s world-famous landmarks such as the Willis Tower and the beautiful yet unassuming brick facade of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra building.

Inside, you’ll see world-renowned pieces like A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day, Claude Monet’s enchanting Water Lilies, and Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom are also on display, as well as thousands of other priceless works that span millennia.

While you’re visiting, cross the train tracks to the Modern Wing, a sanctuary dedicated to 20th and 21st-century art. Here, you’ll walk through one of the largest modern collections in North America that features diverse media such as paintings, sculptures, and photography. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano designed the 264,000-square-foot building, making it a must-see work of art in itself.

After enjoying the museum, check out the Millennium Park. Here, you can visit the iconic and Instagram-worthy Cloud Gate sculpture, a giant stainless steel sculpture that reflects the city’s skyline and nature. Artist and sculptor Anish Kapoor designed the piece in 2006 and since then it has become one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Locals call it the bean because of its unique legume-like shape that’s hard not to enjoy.

If you’re walking through the busy heart of downtown Chicago, don’t miss the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). This beautiful museum is one of the country’s top modern art institutions and a local favorite. It features works done in several media, such as photography, painting, performance art, sculpture, video, and film.

Inside, you’ll see an array of thought-provoking exhibitions, reflecting the city’s and the nation’s cultural and social landscapes since the mid-20th century. Many of the revolving exhibits feature abstract works, letting you, the visitor, interpret them in a way that you like.

Beyond its galleries, the MCA has an excellent bookstore and a great gift shop. There’s also a 300-seat theater, where the museum team screens films and hosts in-depth interviews with different artists. If you decide to visit the museum, don’t miss the free guided tours that are held every day at 1 PM. Keep in mind that members of the MCA, people with disabilities, and anyone under 18 can get in for free. Wednesdays and Thursdays are less busy, while weekends can attract a crowd.

Spend the Day at the Bridgeport Art Center

Next to the bridge on West 35 Street is the massive Bridgeport Art Center. The space is located in a brick building with large antique windows and vintage elevators that date back to 1911. Inside, you will find art stores, galleries, restaurants, cafes, and creative spaces that create a mall-like environment of art and creativity that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.

This place serves as a popular hub for designers, artists, and creative professionals who have built their studios and galleries here. There are three large art galleries, a fashion design center, ceramic centers, and small studios inside of this 500,000-square-foot building.

The groundwork for the project started in 2001 and has since become one of the city’s premier destinations for art lovers and creatives. Its industrial aesthetic, with high ceilings, brick facade, and plenty of open spaces, makes it perfect for looking at art or just hanging out.

The third and fourth floors house major galleries that put on several exhibitions throughout the year. Upstairs on the fifth floor are the individual artists’ spaces and studios where over 100 of Chicago’s biggest artists work. If you need a break from art, you can check out the popular Chicago Maritime Museum on the first floor. This wonderful museum has antique memorabilia and artifacts from the city’s long maritime history and the Great Lakes Region.

Pilsen should be at the top of your list. The area covers museums, galleries, murals, and street art. The neighborhood has, since the early history of Chicago, been where newly arrived immigrants made their communities near the docks and industrial complexes. Since then, Pilsen’s community members and leaders have fought to preserve the space from overdevelopment. Once you arrive, you’ll immediately notice the community’s dedication to the arts. Creative expression can be found anywhere and the neighborhood’s huge cultural diversity is well represented.

First, embark on a walking tour of the neighborhood’s murals and street art. Starting at the Pink Line station on 18th Street, you’ll see the colorful and ever-revolving street art covering the station’s entrance. Head south down the angular Blue Island Avenue and enjoy the shops, galleries, and cafes along it. Keep walking until you get to West 21 Street, where you’ll find several amazing galleries and art stores. If you have the time, consider walking east along 16th Street to see the wide range of graffiti art on the walls and buildings near the train tracks.

To get even more out of Pilsen, consider joining one of the many art-centered walking tours of the neighborhood. This way you’ll be able to learn about each iconic landmark and get unlimited local insight.

Wander Around the Chicago Arts District (CAD)

If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, head to the riverfront on Halsted Avenue in the Pilsen Neighborhood and you’ll find the studios, lofts, galleries, and art stores that make up the energetic Chicago Arts District. Throughout this artistic space, you’ll be able to check out up-and-coming local artists and enjoy their creative spaces.

Don’t miss the Children’s Museum of Art and Social Justice. Here, you can see art made by young students and support the city’s booming art education programs. Afterward, head to more avant-garde studios and galleries such as House of the Apocalypse. Although the gallery is only open a few times per month, it’s well worth visiting if you manage to get in. Inside, you’ll find human-like sculptures and futuristic mannequins as well as paintings and mind-bending figures that represent dream-like warriors in a colorful apocalypse.

On every second Friday of the month, over 30 galleries invite the public to their exhibitions curated by the property management company called Podmajersky, Inc. During this event, you can rub shoulders with Chicago’s artists and designers. You might even find yourself invited to a showing at an underground gallery.

Nearby the art-centered Pilsen Neighborhood is the National Museum of Mexican Art. In this beautiful space near Harrison Park, you’ll see one of the most extensive collections of Mexican art outside of Mexico. The museum houses close to 10,000 priceless works. From sculptures to paintings, textiles to folk art, photographs, and beyond, there’s something for every art lover to marvel at.

The museum’s history goes back to 1982 when author Carlos Tortolero rallied educators and influential people in the art world to establish the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, which officially opened its doors in 1987. The space was designed as both a hub for the arts and a place dedicated to social justice and providing a space that honors the nation’s Mexican community.

While here, don’t miss the world-famous pieces such as Marcos Raya’s The Legacy of Manifest Destiny or Alfonso Castillo Orta’s Máscara con figuras pre-Cuauhtémoc. If you’re visiting Chicago during the fall, mark your calendar for the museum’s annual Day of the Dead exhibition. This mesmerizing display runs from September through December and should not be missed.

Explore Chicago’s West Loop

The West Loop is a former industrial neighborhood just west of downtown that features hidden galleries, studios, and plenty of wonderful museums. For your first stop, head to the WNDR Museum. Here, you can take a walk around an immersive space that’s curated by some of the country’s top visual artists. Don’t miss the bright colors and giant polka dots of Yayoi Kusama’s installations. Next, walk through the neighborhood and visit the art galleries tucked inside the West Loop’s historic brick buildings. Don’t miss iconic places such as the Kavi Gupta Gallery, Gallery 400, and the MADE Gallery.