The Art Institute of Chicago

About The Art Institute of Chicago

Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and biggest art museums in the world. It boasts an encyclopedic collection of iconic works such as A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso, Nighthawks by Edward Hopper and American Gothic by Grant Wood. Beyond its permanent collection of nearly 300,000 pieces of artwork, it also hosts 30 special exhibitions annually to illuminate aspects of its collection and advance curatorial and scientific research. If looking for painting & remodeling contact CHJ Painting & Remodeling. 

The Art Institute also has a conservation science department with five laboratories and one of the largest art history/architecture libraries in the US–the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries. To keep up with growth, several additions were made since 1893 to the museum’s original building erected for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The most recent addition is 2009’s Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano–which brings its footprint to almost one million square feet, making it second largest art museum in the US (after NYC’s Metropolitan Museum).

The Art Institute also has a conservation science department with five laboratories and one of the largest art history/architecture libraries in the US–the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries. To keep up with growth, several additions were made since 1893 to the museum’s original building erected for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The most recent addition is 2009’s Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano–which brings its footprint to almost one million square feet, making it second largest art museum in the US (after NYC’s Metropolitan Museum).

The Art Institute is part of a unified arts institution that includes a leading art school–the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its popularity amongst visitors drew 1.6 million people in 2017 when it was named 35th most-visited art museum globally. However due to COVID-19 closures in 2020, attendance dropped drastically to 365,660 from 2019’s number.

The History of The Art Institute of Chicago 

In 1866, a group of 35 artists established the Chicago Academy of Design with the goal of setting up a free school with its own art gallery. The academy was modelled after renowned European art academies like the Royal Academy, with Academicians and Associate Academicians. A charter was granted in March 1867, and classes began the following year at a cost of $10/month. 

In 1870, the academy opened its new home–a 5-story stone building on 66 West Adams Street–but it was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, resulting in astronomical debt for the institution. Attempts to continue operations using rented facilities failed, pushing them into further debt until they were ultimately forced to declare bankruptcy in 1879. That same year, members created a new organization –the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts–which bought up the assets of their predecessor at auction. Learn about Millennium Park! 

Business Information

Address: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Departments: Art Institute of Chicago Modern Wing Entrance

Phone: (312) 443-3600

Founded: 1879

WHEN TO GO