Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago showcases innovative works by living artists, offering exhibitions, performances, and educational programs.
Planning your visit
The MCA Chicago shows work by living artists, and it has a genuine claim to significance in that history: it mounted Christo's first public wrapping of a building in 1969, wrapping its own facade, and gave Frida Kahlo her first American solo museum exhibition in 1978, decades before her posthumous fame.
The collection covers art since 1945 with strengths in surrealism, minimalism and conceptual work, and substantial holdings by Chicago artists — the Imagists in particular, a group whose grotesque, comic figuration developed largely independently of New York and remains underrated outside the city.
The building, by Josef Paul Kleihues, opened in 1996 with a grand staircase and a sculpture garden behind it.
The performance programme is substantial rather than incidental, with a theatre running dance, music and experimental work.
It sits just off Michigan Avenue near the Water Tower. Allow ninety minutes. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is in Chicago, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Allow ninety minutes. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
What are the opening hours of Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Monday Closed. Hours change on public holidays, so check the official site before travelling.
Do I need to book Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
