Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago facts for kids
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| Established | 1967 (current location since 1996) |
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| Location | 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2643 United States |
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago is a cool art museum in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It's one of the biggest places in the world dedicated to contemporary art, which means art made in our time, usually after World War II. The museum opened in 1967 and has thousands of artworks in its collection.
The MCA often changes its exhibits, showing different art throughout the year. These shows can feature art from their own collection or pieces borrowed from other places. The museum has hosted some really famous first-time shows, like Frida Kahlo's first exhibit in the U.S. and Jeff Koons' first solo museum show.
Later, a Takashi Murakami exhibit in 2017 broke the museum's attendance record, with over 193,000 visitors! The museum's collection includes art by well-known artists like Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Alexander Calder. You can see art styles like pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art. The museum also hosts dance, theater, and music performances.
The MCA's current building, at 220 East Chicago Avenue, was designed by Josef Paul Kleihues. It's known for its grand staircase and big glass walls that let you see the city and Lake Michigan.
Contents
What is the History of the MCA?
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago started because a group of 30 art critics, collectors, and dealers met in 1964. They wanted a museum just for contemporary art in Chicago, to go along with the city's Art Institute of Chicago. The museum first opened in the fall of 1967 in a smaller building at 237 East Ontario Street.
At first, the MCA mostly showed temporary exhibits, like a kunsthalle in Germany. This means it was more like a gallery for changing shows than a place with a huge permanent collection. But in 1974, the museum started collecting its own permanent art pieces made after 1945.
To make more space, the MCA bought and connected a nearby building in 1977. In 1978, artist Gordon Matta-Clark created a unique project there, cutting circles into the walls and floors.
How Did the New Building Come About?
In 1991, the museum's leaders decided to build a brand new, much larger home. They raised a lot of money for this big project. Six board members were very important in donating money.
The museum looked at designs from six famous architects from around the world. Even though some Chicago architects were considered, none of them were chosen as finalists. The museum wanted an architect who could work closely with their team.
In 1996, the MCA opened its current building at 220 East Chicago Avenue. This spot used to be a National Guard Armory. The new building, designed by Josef Paul Kleihues, is five times bigger than the old one. It made the MCA the largest museum in the world focused on contemporary art.
The building's design is inspired by famous Chicago architecture. The museum opened its new doors on June 21-22, 1996, with a 24-hour event that attracted over 25,000 visitors!
What Kind of Art Exhibits Does the MCA Host?
Past Exhibitions
In its first year, the museum showed art by Claes Oldenburg and Dan Flavin. In 1969, the artist Christo wrapped the museum building in fabric and rope, which was his first building wrap in the U.S. The next year, artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol had shows.
The MCA has also been the first place in America to show art by famous artists like Frida Kahlo (in 1978) and Jeff Koons (in 1988). Other important shows organized by the MCA include:
- Enrico Baj (1971)
- Chuck Close (1972)
- Lee Bontecou (1972)
- Richard Artschwager (1973)
- Robert Irwin (1975)
- Frida Kahlo (1978)
- Vito Acconci (1980)
- Magdalena Abakanowicz (1982)
- Lorna Simpson (1992)
- Mona Hatoum (1997)
- Tom Friedman (2000)
- John Currin (2003)
- Rudolf Stingel (2007)
- David Bowie (2014)
- Doris Salcedo (2015)
- Kerry James Marshall (2016)
- Takashi Murakami (2017)
- Virgil Abloh (2019)
- Nick Cave (2022)
Recent Exhibitions
In 2006, the MCA was the only U.S. museum to host the Massive Change exhibit by Bruce Mau. This show explored how design affects society and the economy. In 2008, a show featuring Jeff Koons broke the attendance record at the time.
In 2014, the MCA was the only U.S. museum to host the David Bowie Is... exhibition, which was incredibly popular. But the record was broken again in 2017 by the Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg exhibit, which had over 193,000 visitors!
In 2016, the MCA showed Kerry James Marshall: Mastry, a highly praised exhibit that later traveled to other major museums. In 2019, the museum featured a show about the American designer Virgil Abloh. In 2020, the MCA had its first guest art curator, Duro Olowu, who created an exhibition called Duro Olowu: Seeing Chicago.
In 2022, the MCA presented Nick Cave: Forothermore, which was the Chicago artist’s first big show covering his entire career.
What Are the Recurring Programs?
The museum has a special series called Chicago Works that features artists from the Chicago area. These shows are now displayed for three months each.
Since 2002, the MCA has asked artists and architects to create public art for the plaza outside the museum. This program helps connect the museum with the community.
From October to May, the MCA hosts monthly Family Days with art activities for all ages. Every summer, you can enjoy Tuesdays on the Terrace, a jazz concert series, and a Farmers Market on the plaza. The museum also has evening programs like In Progress, which explores how artists create their work.
What Performances Can You See at the MCA?
The MCA Stage is famous for showing local and international theater, dance, music, and film. It's known as the "most active interdisciplinary arts presenter in Chicago." This means it brings together different types of art forms.
Famous performers who have appeared at the MCA Stage include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Philip Glass, and Martha Graham.
In September 2022, the MCA Stage held its first annual Chicago Performs festival. This two-day event featured experimental dance, music, and theater by local artists. The museum also has a yearly series called On Stage every spring, which presents live and digital performances.
What is the MCA Building Like?
The MCA building is made of limestone and aluminum and has five stories. It was designed by Berlin architect Josef Paul Kleihues and opened in 1996. The building has 45,000 square feet of gallery space, which is seven times more than the old museum. It also has a theater, classrooms, an education center, a museum store, a restaurant, and a sculpture garden.
The sculpture garden is 34,000 square feet and features art by Sol LeWitt, George Rickey, and Jane Highstein. The entire building and garden are designed around a square shape.
What Are the Building's Features?
The main entrance has 32 steps leading up to it. The building uses a lot of glass, especially on its east and west sides, creating a sense of openness. There are also two other entrances, one for the education center and one for the museum store.
The grand staircase inside, with its wide steps, reminds some people of ancient Greek architecture. The main entrance hall has a tall, 55-foot atrium that connects to a restaurant. Two galleries for temporary exhibits are on either side of the atrium. Many people think the stairwell in the northwest corner is the most interesting part of the building's design.
The building's tall glass front sits on a base of Indiana limestone. It's also known for its special hand-cast aluminum panels. The museum has several gallery spaces, including two two-story ones.
The museum has a theater with 296 seats. The stage is 52 by 34 feet. For its 50th anniversary in 2017, the museum updated some of its public spaces. Architects Johnston Marklee redesigned 12,000 square feet inside the museum. This included a new restaurant called Marisol, a social space called the Commons, and new classrooms on the third floor.
What Do Critics Think of the Building?
Some critics felt the outside of the new building looked too much like a fortress compared to the old museum. However, they often found the inside to be calm and peaceful, which works well for contemporary art. They also liked that the interior was well-organized.
Some people compare the building's design to the work of famous Chicago architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Louis Sullivan. The architect Douglas Garofalo described the building as "stark" but noted that the atrium connects the city to the lake and fills with sunlight. The building is designed to keep the art separate from other parts of the museum, so visitors can focus on the artworks.
What is the MCA's Goal?
The MCA's goal is to be an exciting place for contemporary art. They want people to experience the work of living artists and understand the history and culture behind the art of our time. The museum is also a leader in collecting art by artists who haven't always been well-known. For example, they collect much more art by women and Black American artists than the national average.
In 2011, the MCA started to rethink its identity with new art curators and a new plan for its spaces. The museum wants to be a place where artists and visitors are equally involved. The main floor galleries now show art from the museum's permanent collection and works by contemporary artists. Other floors are used for special exhibits and series like Chicago Works.
What Kind of Art is in the MCA Collection?
The museum's collection has about 2,700 art objects and over 3,000 artist's books. It includes art from 1945 to today.
The collection features examples of different art styles from the 1940s to the 1970s, like late surrealism, pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art. It also has important works from the 1980s that fall under postmodernism. Plus, there's lots of contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installations.
Notable Artworks in the Collection
- Study for a Portrait, 1949, by Francis Bacon
- Les merveilles de la nature (The Wonders of Nature), 1953, René Magritte
- Polychrome and Horizontal Bluebird, 1954, by Alexander Calder
- In Memory of My Feelings - Frank O'Hara, 1961, by Jasper Johns
- Retroactive II, 1963, by Robert Rauschenberg
- Jackie Frieze, 1964, by Andy Warhol
- Untitled, 1970, Donald Judd
- Untitled Film Still, #14, 1978, by Cindy Sherman
- Farmer's Dream, 1980, by Richard Hunt
- Rabbit, 1986, by Jeff Koons
- Cindy, 1988, by Chuck Close
- Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B. Walker, Colored, 1997, by Kara Walker
For its 40th anniversary in 2008, the museum received gifts of art from artists like Dan Flavin. It also bought new works by artists such as Carlos Amorales. In 2022, a collector named Dimitris Daskalopoulos gave the MCA Chicago 100 artworks from his collection. The museum now shares ownership of these pieces with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
How Does the MCA Operate?
Who Runs the Museum?
The museum is overseen by a board of trustees, which includes officers and many other trustees. The current board chair is Cari B. Sacks. The museum also has a director, Madeleine Grynsztejn, who leads a staff of about 100 people.
The museum has three main departments for its programs: Curatorial (for exhibits), Performance (for shows), and Learning and Public Programs (for education and community events).
When Can You Visit the MCA?
The museum is closed on Mondays. It's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. On Tuesdays, it stays open later, until 9 p.m.
While there's a suggested admission fee for adults, admission is free for MCA members, military members, and all youth aged 18 and under. Illinois residents can also visit for free every Tuesday. In the summer, the museum offers free outdoor Tuesday Jazz concerts. Besides art exhibits, you can also enjoy dance, theater, music, and other performances.
How is the Museum Funded?
The MCA is a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money. Its exhibits, programs, and daily operations are supported by members and private donations. In 2020, the museum had an endowment of $127 million. A large part of its income comes from contributions from individuals, companies, and foundations.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Chicago para niños
- Chicago architecture
- Visual arts of Chicago
- List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago
- List of contemporary art museums
- MCA Stage
Images for kids
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