Recently I visited my brother in Northern Illinois. He lives and works on a beautiful farm just north of where we grew up. I took the opportunity to take the train into Chicago to explore Chicago’s Art Institute. The Art Institute of Chicago is my favorite of all of Chicago’s many places to visit. That’s high praise because the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium,  and Shedd Aquarium are all terrific and well worth visiting. 

Gauguin: Artist as Alchemist – a fascinating look at this artist.

The Art Institute is hosting Gauguin: Artist as Alchemist. regular admission is $25 and admission to the special exhibit is $7. I am not a huge fan of Gauguin. He is not my favorite Impressionist. This exhibit was about his process, his development as an artist and all the various media that he experimented with. It was a very interesting view of this artist. He was about pushing boundaries – his own and convention. I think some of his more interesting work was shown in the exhibit. I was particularly interested in his printmaking and how it evolved. It was definitely worth seeing. 

After the Gauguin: Artist as Alchemist I hit a couple of my favorite galleries. Impressionism, of course. The collection is excellent and quite large. I love to go into each room, sit on a bench and enjoy each painting. After that I wandered through European Decorative Art, Medieval and Renaissance Art, Arms and Armor, and Modern American Art 1900-1950. I moved to the first floor for American Art before 1900 where they have Marie Cassatt and John Singer Sargent who’s work is always a pleasure to view. 

Explore Chicago’s Art Institute to see Chagall’s America Windows

Chagall’s America Windows. Always breathtaking. Every time I see them, I see something new in the design.

My final goal was the Chagall’s America Windows but I let the currents guide me and I visited the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art where I ran into this handsome fellow. 

Still smokin’ hot after 2000 years!

Still smoking hot after 2000 years! Antinous was Emperor Hadrian’s companion and probable lover. Sigh!

To get back to the Grand Staircase at the main entrance I wandered through the Indian, Southeast Asian and Himalayan Art. Then I drifted into the Chinese, Japanese and Korean Art. This gallery was very enjoyable.

Explore Chicago’s Art Institute’s Chinese, Japanese and Korean Gallery

I could have taken this cute fellow home. Isn’t he adorable!

Isn’t he gorgeous? So proud and fierce.

Quite a scary fellow. He looks like he could just step off of that rock any moment.

I only saw a fraction of what the Art Institute of Chicago has to offer. There is something for everyone, no matter what your interest. I never saw the new modern wing which has Film, Video and New Media, Photography and The Ryan Learning Center where there are family activities. When you are weary there are several restaurants and the beautiful gardens to rest in. 

Stanley McCormick Memorial Court, South Garden. A beautiful place to take a break.

If you are in Chicago don’t miss a visit to the Art Institute. I love it!!