Great Things To Do In Chicago
There are many great things to do in Chicago. We especially love Chicago art museums such as the Chicago Art Institute and the Museum of Contemporary Art. For a museum with great contemporary art we suggest the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Sitting in the heart of downtown Chicago, the MCA is a gem.
One of the best parts of the MCA is that the exhibits change continually. They have always shown famous artists, such as Frida Kahlo and Jeff Koons However, they also feature the work of up-and-coming artists.
Because MCA is often on the cutting edge of the contemporary art scene, you can often find a wide assortment of upcoming and well-established new artists.
New Exhibitions
Ending July 4 is Unfinished Business, which includes works by artists such as Alexander Calder. The change, the movement, and that reaction to the environment is a kinetic part of the art itself, and is unending. The exhibit questions if a work of art is ever truly “complete.” It is not only the art that moves and changes, but also the viewer’s personal understanding helps to define the art, and its meaning.
Upcoming exhibitions include an exploration of Chicago-based comic artists, a series of graphite drawings, and an exhibition working through the Structure of Images and global injustice.
Previous Exhibitions
Previous exhibitions we have especially enjoyed presented the art of David Bowie and Kerry James Marshall.
You Can View the Entire Permanent Collection Online
Parts of this Chicago art museum’s permanent collection rotate on display on the main floor. They will occasionally change these pieces out so that there is always a reason to come back and experience something new.
Works include artists such as Calder, Malevich, Duchamp, Ernst, de Kooning, and Frankenthaler. The collection is huge, and it is always worth a visit to see some truly fantastic contemporary art and perhaps find a new favorite artist.
You can view the entire collection online.
While the Art Institute will take you through the history of art in a beautifully curated way, if you are interested in the cutting edge of art, up-and-coming artists, and thought-provoking pieces, the MCA is the place to go in Chicago.
The MCA is well-located between Michigan Avenue and Lakeshore, in a bustling part of the city. There are fine hotels and restaurants nearby. It is very close to Water Tower Place.
Marisol Restaurant
MCA’s restaurant, Marisol is very good. There is also a snack bar for a more casual meal.
Gifts! Of Course You Want Beautiful Gifts
Finally, if you are looking for gifts for the artistically-inclined among your friends, visit the MCA Museum Shop either in person or online.
More Art in Chicago
Visiting Chicago? Check out our other posts:
- Your Kind of Town Chicago,
- Intuit, Outsider Art
- Chicago Art Institute
Don't Forget Chicago Architecture
Chicago has a plethora of amazing art activities. Chicago architecture alone could take a whole week to explore. (We’ll be doing a post on Chicago architecture later.)
The Museum of Contemporary Art has been in its current location since 1996. It is a beautiful space often cited as inspired by the influential architect Mies van der Rohe.
In fact, the van der Rohe masterpiece known as Glass House (they are on a US postal stamp), the 860-880 North Lake Shore Drive apartments are just a few short blocks away from MCA.
We will be discussing van der Rohe and his influence on architecture in a future post. It really captures the aesthetic and sense of design that you can find inside.
