Reviews & Ratings for The Art Institute of Chicago

02/28/11

Fantastic collection; confusing and badly organized layout

by supersquirrels at Citysearch

The Art Institute is amazing. It has an incredible collection and we spent almost a full day there and could easily return anytime. The only thing that was off putting was the fact that it is poorly laid out and confusing to visitors. We had to ask staff multiple times for directions through the building to the collections.

Suggestion: put colour-coded arrows on the floors guiding patrons through the art gallery to the respective sections. Eg. "To the Impressionist collection" etc. It would simplify it. There are too many nooks & crannies, various elevators that only go to certain parts of the gallery, and it wasted a lot of time wandering through the gallery. The layout was poor, the aesthetics of the galleries was wonderful. The art was superb. I hope they reconsider the layout in the future or at least work with the terrible layout to make it clearer through arrows on the floor to guide guests through the galleries.

07/02/08

Too Much Art!

by IceMouse at Citysearch

My girlfriend and I are avid art-lovers, but it almost feels like there was too much here. We were so exhausted by the end of the couple hours we spent here that we passed up other museums. The miniature rooms were amazingly impressive, and there is a whole floor dedicated to art that you can touch(Great for kids). As of June 30, the museum was undergoing a lot of construction it seemed, which could be inconvenient at times as stairways were often closed off. Many famous pieces, both western and eastern were on display, but we were upset to find that many impressionist and post-impressionist works were NOT on display. Many famous(Not all) works of Monet, Cassatt, Van Gogh, and Seraut were all hidden away for the construction making the trip somewhat disappointing, however they still had a lot of other famous works of Degas, Duchamp, Renoir, Manet, Picasso, and others. A lot of art that one certainly should see in their lives, just be aware, it is a BIG place, the second floor WILL wear you out. Also, a lot of large-scale works are extremely breathtaking. Look in the corner rooms of the second floor for these.

• Pros: $7 if you're a student, many famous works, more art than I could have asked for
• Cons: Construction, many famous works put away because of this

01/21/07

Fabulous Museum

by ajjan1973 at Citysearch

Easily one of the best museums in the U.S. Do yourself a favor and visit it if you haven't already. I'll definitley check out the upcoming Cezanne to Picasso exhibit.

• Pros: Great collection
• Cons: Not as good as the MET in New York

10/25/06

Large collection for a small price

by sdollx at Citysearch

Large collection of artwork by many masters. Great place to experience a little bit of everything. It's worth the admission.

• Pros: Large collection
• Cons: parking

06/13/05

Beyond the famous feline sentinels flanking these steps resides one of the world's great art collections.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Whether you prefer modern photography, architectural drawings, Japanese prints or African sculpture, you'll find it all at this sprawling museum. Innovative temporary exhibitions have included the art of the West African Baule people and of ancient New World civilizations.

The Collection
The Art Institute of Chicago is best known for its collection of American art and Impressionism (unrivaled anywhere outside the Musee d'Orsay). Must-sees include Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks," Matisse's "Bathers by a River," Caillebotte's "Paris, A Rainy Day," Picasso's "Old Guitarist," Monet's "Grainstacks" series, and Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the La Grande Jatte."

06/03/03

Beautiful Place

by MissEm67 at Citysearch

The Art Institute is a must see while in Chicago. I took my boyfriend there in March, and it was incredible. The impressionist galleries are breathtaking. The modern art and sculptures are worth see as well. The museum store is very nice as well. The staff is very helpful. I think this would be a great place for anyone to see. Enjoy.

• Pros: World class art, Location, Good Value
• Cons: Can be crowded, Hours

05/08/03

Wow!

by r0ht at Citysearch

Easily Argued the Best Art Exhibits in the US. You may want to take this in several days, otherwise you'll be running through this mueseum to see all of the Pissacos, Van Gogh, Dali, Warhol, F.L.Wright, etc. etc. paitings, statues, photos, sculptures, armors, etc. etc. This is a gem of the world, and is a must visit. A VERY good value for anywhere in the world.

If you are a student then bring your ID to get a discount. I think Tuesday is free admission day.

• Pros: Immense collection, Layout, Value
• Cons: Time

01/21/03

World Class Art

by armaghetto at Citysearch

The Art Institute of Chicago is truly one of the world's greatest museums, on par with Le Louvre and the Guggenheim. It contains 2 of the most famous, if not most recognized, American paintings: Nighthawks by Edward Hopper and American Gothic by Grant Wood.

Tuesdays are "free days" with no admission fee. Whichever day you go, I'd say get there early. You'll need to make a few visits to see everything.

• Pros: great collection, great exhibits, beautiful building
• Cons: crowded on weekends

12/19/02

IIII Day Off

by IIII at Citysearch

I remember the first time I went to the Art Institute. My family had just moved to the midwest and I hated it, but we took a trip to Chicago to see the sites and I will never forget two things: Saurat's Grande Jatte and seeing my first Paul Klee. We went to other Museums and sites, but The Art Institue was then, and continues to be the highlight of any trip to the windy city. The layout might be a bit confusing, and the collection of contemporary works thin, but I wouldn't change a thing. And last year getting to see the Gauguin/Van gogh exhibit was a cultural highlight of my life.

• Pros: Impressionist Coll., Asian Artifacts
• Cons: Layout