The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago: Insider's Guide to Enjoying the Best Private Museum Tours in Chicago

Introduction: The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum. It has been ranked as one of the best museums in the United States and is considered to be one of the top ten museums in the world.

It has a collection of over 300,000 pieces, which includes Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art.

The museum was founded in 1879 by a group of business leaders who wanted to establish an institution for "the advancement and diffusion abroad of knowledge and appreciation for the arts".

First Impressions - What We Loved
The Art Institute has always collected the art of its time. The fact that the museum opened in the late 1800s means priority on acquiring art that was recently created. For example, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, one of the museum's most well-known paintings, takes that to another level, as it joined the museum's collection in 1942, the very year that it was painted. 

Hopper himself wrote to Art Institute director Daniel Catton Rich in May that he was "very much pleased that you like my Nighthawks well enough to acquire it for the Art Institute. It is, I believe, one of the very best things I have painted."

In the Nighthawks, Hopper eliminated any reference to an entrance, and the viewer unable to see what is inside the building. In this scene, Hopper’s use of light signifies the absent viewer. In fact, the painting is completely black, revealing how much it relies on light and shadow. The wedge of light is a spotlight that spans across the entire canvas. The woman in red was modeled after his wife, Josephine.  Hopper’s paintings are magical with complete silence. It’s complete isolation and quietness is what we love about this work.

What You'll Find at the Art Institute
The museum has many different categories of work on display. These include Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, African sculpture and works from Europe and America. The museum also hosts rotating exhibitions that are often organized in collaboration with other museums around the world. The museum also has a space for temporary exhibitions and a library.  If you are lover of the Impressionists, we recommend giving yourself half a day to explore this institution.

What is Hidden Behind that Entrance Fee?
Peace of mind and being surrounded by beautiful works of art.

Why not book our service today? Let us take you in an incredible journey of the Modern and Contemporary Art by our passionate guides. 

At the moment, they have David Hockney until Jan 3, 2023. 
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General Admission is $25 per adult.

Seniors and students are $19.

Kids under 14 are free.

Special rates for Chicago residents are $20 per adults, $14 for kids and seniors.