Art Institute of Chicago, Art museum in Grant Park, Chicago, US
The Art Institute of Chicago is a large art museum in Grant Park, displaying paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects from different periods. The collection ranges from ancient artifacts to contemporary installations, spread across numerous interconnected galleries.
The museum was founded in 1879 and moved into its current building on Michigan Avenue in 1893. The structure was part of the World's Columbian Exposition and served as a congress pavilion before becoming the permanent home of the collections.
The name refers to the dual role the place has always held as both a gallery and a teaching space. Visitors often see students from the attached school sitting in front of original works, sketching or painting directly from the collection.
The entrance is on Michigan Avenue, across from Millennium Park. Galleries are spread over multiple floors, and free maps help visitors find their way around the building.
The two bronze lions at the main entrance often wear sports jerseys or scarves during local team victories. This tradition started informally and is now maintained by the city, without permanently altering the statues themselves.
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