Following new York And Los Angeles editions, here we bring you our Chicago summer art guide. Avoid the selfie hoards at the Bean and discover some of the city’s more low-key art landmarks, from the Driehaus Museum to the Pendry Hotel, and the thriving gallery scene of the West Loop arts district.
Chicago Art Institute
“Van Gogh and the avant-garde: the modern landscape”
Georges Seurat, The Seine at La Grande Jatte (1888). Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Discover the Parisian countryside through the eyes of Vincent van Gogh, as well as Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Émile Bernard and Charles Angrand, in an extensive exhibition (until September 4) which brings together more than 75 paintings and drawings from the Post- Impressionists. “Van Gogh and the avant-garde: the modern landscape” at the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Avenue) goes beyond bucolic scenes to examine the rapid industrial development of the French capital in the last decades of the 19th century, as evidenced by the artists. The verdant landscapes of Seurat give way to Bernard’s steam locomotives in a captivating exhibition.
Emile Bernard, Iron bridges in Asnières (1887). Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Take a minute to relax in the institute’s South Garden, whose doors are now open. Designed by renowned landscape architect Dan Kiley and completed in 1967, the “Secret Garden,” as locals call it, is an unexpected urban oasis among canopied hawthorns and a reflecting pool.
Just one block from the Art Institute is the historic Chicago Athletic Association (12 S. Michigan Avenue), an elite 19th century men’s club turned luxury hotel. The Founders Suite features original ornate woodwork, stained glass, and two working fireplaces. Be sure to visit Cindy’s rooftop restaurantwhere, under a huge glass atrium, some of the most panoramic views and creative cocktails in the city can be enjoyed.
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
Hector Guimard
The Maher Gallery inside the Driehaus Museum. Courtesy of Driehaus Museum.
“Hector Guimard: from Art Nouveau to Modernismat the Driehaus Museum (40 E. Erie Street), a restored 1883 mansion, offers an inside look at the life and work of the French architect and designer who, breaking with the organic forms of his classical training at the Beaux -Arts, became a pioneer of modern design. Its avant-garde entrances to the Paris Metro, designed at the turn of the 20th century, are still symbols of the city. Golden age. JThe exhibition delves into his influential heritage which spans furniture, jewelry, metalwork, ceramics, designs and textiles.
Don’t miss the museum’s spectacular Maher Gallery, named after Prairie School architect George Washington Maher, who designed the stained-glass dome and lacquered cherry bookcases for the owner’s rare book collection. The dome features four trees arching towards the oculus with leaves rendered in glass draped in autumnal colors – a masterpiece of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Hector Guimard, Entrance to the Paris Metro (1900). Photo: James Caulfield. Courtesy of Driehaus Museum.
You’ll notice your proximity to the Magnificent Mile, as well as the stylish Gold Coast, which means your upscale shopping (Oak Street) and dining options are virtually endless. For a taste of old-school Chicago, head to Gibsons (1028 N. Rush Street), an iconic steakhouse where you can hang out among the celebrities, whose signed photos adorn the walls. Browse high-end boutiques such as ikram Or historic landmarks like the Water Tower, one of the few structures to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and now serves as an art gallery, showcasing the work of local artists.
West Loop Arts District
Mary Watt, Sky Dances Light: Solo XII (2022). Courtesy of Kavi Gupta.
Transformed from its industrial roots, bustling West Loop has become a thriving epicenter for restaurants and nightlife, but it’s an art district at heart. Start your journey at the first of the two Kavi Gupta Gallery locations (835 W. Washington Boulevard)where artist and former Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellow Marie Watt has installed a fascinating exhibition of “Jingle clouds”, large-scale metal sculptures that hang from the ceiling like chimes. Just steps away, Soho House offers a little pick-me-up and poolside refreshment. From there, a short walk west will take you to Kavi Gupta’s other West Loop location (219 N. Elizabeth Street), where African-Canadian sculptor Esmaa Mohamoud currently exhibits a field of steel dandelions in a meditation on contemporary life.
Installation view, Esmaa Mohamoud, “Let them consume me in the light” (2023). Courtesy of Kavi Gupta.
Near bustling Fulton Market (Chicago’s former warehouse district), Randolph Street offers a plethora of culinary delights. For elevated Italian, head to Monteverde Pastificio, where chef Sarah Grueneberg’s handmade pasta has made the restaurant the hardest-to-find table in town. For a more original experience, visit Girl & The Goat by Stephanie Izard, one of Restaurant Row’s premier restaurants, blending the world’s most daring flavors, including goat, with local ingredients. It’s the best kept secret in the Chicago art world.
Carbide Castle at Pendry Chicago
Rooftop views and Riviera vibes
Exterior view of the Carbide and Carbon building. Courtesy of Pendry Chicago.
Located atop the art-deco Carbide and Carbon building, designed by the Burnham Brothers to look like a green champagne bottle topped with gold leaf.Carbide Castle is a tribute to the French Riviera, complete with a picnic-style menu. Appropriately, the rooftop restaurant (part of the Pendry Hotel) offers spectacular views of the city’s ever-changing skyline. Head to the Moët Champagne spritz bar or get cozy with a botanical drink from the absinthe-inspired cocktail bar.
Derrick Adams, fun unicorn (2023). Courtesy of Art on the Mart.
Back at street level, stroll around the Riverwalk, a lively mile-long boardwalk and bike path along the Chicago River. Expanded in 2015, the Riverwalk now hosts Art on the Mart, the world’s largest permanent digital art exhibit, projected onto the vast exterior of the Merchandise Mart building. Currently on view is fun unicorn, artist Derrick Adams’ ode to black joy. Presented in partnership with Rhona Hoffmann Gallerythe exuberant crowd puller lights up every night at 9 p.m. until July 5.
Come back for our Artnet summer itinerary in Washington, DC, and visit the new York And Los Angeles routes.
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