100 Masterpieces to See at the Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago has released a curated guide to 100 essential masterpieces within its massive one-million-square-foot campus. The selection spans global art history, ranging from ancient Egyptian mummies and Greek statues to iconic American sculptures like Edward Kemeys’s bronze lions and Narcissa Niblack Thorne’s intricate miniature rooms. The list is designed to help visitors navigate the museum's vast collection by grouping works by their physical location within the galleries.

Emmanuel Di Donna Mounts Major Salvador Dalí Show as Final Exhibition in Madison Avenue Space

Emmanuel Di Donna is presenting a major Salvador Dalí exhibition, "Dalí: The Great Years, 1929–1939," at his Madison Avenue gallery from April 16 to June 13. The show features over two dozen paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the artist's most formative decade, assembled with loans from major institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It will be the final exhibition in Di Donna's current space before he launches a new joint venture with Pace and David Schrader.

Our pick of the best museum and gallery shows to see in Chicago this spring

Chicago’s spring art season features a diverse array of exhibitions, highlighted by Dabin Ahn’s solo debut at Document, which explores memory and grief through fractured canvases and Korean ceramics. The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a tribute to the late Lucas Samaras, showcasing his experimental Polaroid self-portraiture, while the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) launches an ambitious group show examining the political and cultural impact of dancehall and reggaetón.

Our pick of the best museum and gallery shows to see in Chicago this spring

Chicago’s spring art season is highlighted by a series of significant institutional and gallery exhibitions, ranging from deeply personal solo debuts to expansive cultural surveys. Key highlights include Dabin Ahn’s first solo show at Document, featuring paintings that explore grief and impermanence following the death of his father, and a retrospective of the late Lucas Samaras at the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is launching a major group exhibition titled "Dancing the Revolution," which examines the political and cultural impact of dancehall and reggaetón through the work of over 35 artists.

Art Institute of Chicago’s first Norman Rockwell acquisition is a home run

The Art Institute of Chicago has acquired its first work by the iconic American illustrator Norman Rockwell. The painting, titled "The Dugout" (1948), is a significant oil study for a Saturday Evening Post cover depicting dejected Chicago Cubs players. Donated by former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana, the work has been immediately placed on view alongside other masterpieces of American art like "American Gothic."

Visual Art and Jazz: A Crossover of Media

The Art Institute of Chicago is preparing to host an exhibition exploring the profound intersection between modern art and jazz music. Focusing on the works of Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, the show highlights how the concept of improvisation—a cornerstone of jazz—served as a vital creative catalyst for these two masters of modernism.

Why Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s Go-Go Dancer Piece Remains Subversive

The New York Times examines the enduring power of Felix Gonzalez-Torres's 1991 performance piece "Untitled" (Go-Go Dancing Platform), in which a go-go dancer performs on a pedestal for a brief, scheduled period each day. The work, currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago, uses the dancer's absence as a central component, creating a poignant metaphor for queer presence and loss.

Emerson Bowyer Appointed Chief Curator of Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth has appointed Emerson Bowyer as its new chief curator, effective March 5. Bowyer joins from the Art Institute of Chicago, where he served as the Searle Curator and oversaw significant acquisitions, including works by William Holman Hunt and Camille Claudel.

Ionit Behar, the MCA’s Newest Curator, on Opening Windows Into Other Worlds

Dr. Ionit Behar has been appointed as the Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, effective February 9, 2026. Born in Israel and raised in Uruguay, Behar brings a global perspective shaped by her upbringing in an academic environment and her experience as an immigrant in the United States. Her curatorial philosophy emphasizes the museum as a space for intellectual discovery and emotional resonance rather than a mere repository of information.

Scholar Attributes Long-Suspected ‘Workshop Copy’ Painting to Rembrandt

A painting in a private UK collection, long considered a workshop copy of Rembrandt's 'Old Man with a Gold Chain' at the Art Institute of Chicago, has been newly attributed to Rembrandt himself by scholar Gary Schwartz. Schwartz argues the quality and lack of corrections suggest Rembrandt, not a pupil, created the canvas replica while the original process was still fresh.

Painting from Elmhurst U. Collection Tours Prestigious Museums

Elmhurst University’s painting "Tree at Aledo" by Gertrude Abercrombie is currently on a national tour as part of the retrospective exhibition "Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery." The work is presently on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum following stops at the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Colby College Museum of Art, with a final scheduled stop at the Norton Museum of Art through early 2027.

An Important Urbino Maiolica Basin for the Clark

Un important bassin en majolique d'Urbino pour le Clark

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown has acquired a significant 16th-century Urbino maiolica basin from the gallery Camille Leprince following its display at TEFAF. Attributed to the workshop of Orazio or Flaminio Fontana, the trilobed basin features intricate historiated scenes from the life of Joseph and elaborate grotesque decorations. The piece was a highlight of the fair and is accompanied by extensive research regarding its complex provenance.

Charlotte Gere obituary

Art historian Charlotte Gere has died at the age of 88. A specialist in 19th-century art and design, she was the author of seminal works like 'Victorian Jewellery Design' and played a key role in rediscovering the lost jewels of architect William Burges, turning her research into compelling detective stories.

Exhibit at Dayton Art Institute invites you to engage with time at every scale

The Dayton Art Institute has opened a new exhibition titled "Time: A Journey Through Its Many Scales," which features over 50 works from its permanent collection alongside select loans. The show explores the concept of time through diverse artistic mediums, from ancient artifacts to contemporary digital art, inviting visitors to consider time's passage from milliseconds to millennia.

Art exhibits in the Dayton region to see this month

Several art exhibitions are opening or currently on view across the Dayton, Ohio region this month. Venues include the Dayton Art Institute, the Rosewood Gallery, and the University of Dayton's ArtStreet, featuring a mix of local artists, student work, and thematic group shows.

Tabula Rasa: The Geometry of the Collective.

Peterson Kamwathi's exhibition 'Tabula Rasa: The Geometry of the Collective' opened at the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute. The show features his work exploring how individual bodies accumulate and dissolve into larger social and political formations, mapping the dynamics of crowds, protests, and collective identity.

Art with Bite: Putting Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore’s Bravery on Display

An exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, 'Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore: The Seeing Stone,' presents the collaborative and subversive work of the French artists and life partners. The show features over 200 objects, including photographs, photomontages, and manuscripts, focusing on their radical self-portraiture and resistance to gender and social norms.

Dorothy Dehner | Dorothy Dehner - Drawing for Sculpture (1955) | Available for Sale

Alpha 137 Gallery has listed a unique 1955 work on paper by American modernist Dorothy Dehner titled "Drawing for Sculpture." The piece, executed in brown marker on found stationery from a New York manufacturer’s agent, represents a pivotal moment in Dehner’s career when she transitioned from painting to the abstract sculpture for which she became famous. The work is hand-signed and dated, reflecting her early exploration of three-dimensional forms through graphic media.

Member Lecture: Christina Ramberg—A Retrospective

The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a major retrospective of Christina Ramberg, a pivotal figure in the Chicago Imagist movement. Co-curated by Thea Liberty Nichols and Mark Pascale, the exhibition features approximately 100 works, representing nearly 80% of the artist's total career output. The lecture by Nichols highlights Ramberg’s multidisciplinary practice—spanning painting, quilting, and printmaking—and her deep engagement with an informal archive of ephemera and source material.

Chicago Art Movements Over The Years, From the Monster Roster to the Modern Moment

Chicago’s art history is defined by a series of indigenous movements that prioritized visceral, existential expression over commercial appeal. The article traces this lineage back to the late 1940s with the emergence of the Monster Roster, a group of artists including Leon Golub and Dominick Di Meo who returned from World War II to produce agonistic work. This movement was catalyzed by institutional resistance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, leading to the creation of the independent Momentum Exhibitions which bypassed conservative juried systems.

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The 2026 Hong Kong International Cultural Summit convened global museum leaders and policymakers at the M+ museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art to discuss the city's evolving role as a cultural hub. Amidst geopolitical shifts, the summit saw the signing of several memoranda of understanding between Hong Kong and international institutions, including the Misk Art Institute and the Czech Academy of Visual Arts. Key announcements included a five-year partnership renewal with Art Basel and the upcoming launch of the West Kowloon Academy, an incubator for arts professionals.

6 Kansas City art exhibits you'll love seeing this spring

Kansas City’s spring art season features a diverse lineup of exhibitions across several key local venues, highlighting regional talent and identity-driven narratives. Notable shows include a group exhibition by the Kansas City Art Institute’s AAPI Association at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center and a collaborative project between Kansas City and Chicago galleries titled "Queer Ecologies II" at the Charlotte Street Foundation, which explores the intersection of queer identity and environmental science.

Sarasota Fine Art Festival and Naples Downtown Art Fair are March 21 and 22

Southwest Florida’s outdoor art season culminates this weekend with the Sarasota Fine Art Show and the 38th Annual Naples Downtown Art Fair. These regional staples will feature over 200 exhibitors across Sarasota Art Museum’s grounds and Naples’ Cambier Park, offering a mix of commercial vendor stalls and high-caliber fine art.

Frida Kahlo Icon Headlines

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Tate Modern has announced a major exhibition for 2026 titled "Frida Kahlo: The Making of an Icon," featuring over 130 artworks and archival materials. The exhibition aims to explore the cult-like following surrounding the Mexican artist and how her personal biography became inseparable from her creative legacy. This announcement follows a series of global institutional efforts to deconstruct the Kahlo myth, including recent shows at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Dallas Museum of Art.

10 Chicago art exhibitions we’re most excited about in spring 2026

Chicago’s major cultural institutions have unveiled a diverse lineup of exhibitions for the spring 2026 season, ranging from historical retrospectives to pop-culture crossovers. Highlights include the U.S. debut of the Pokémon Fossil Museum at the Field Museum, a rare display of Henri Matisse’s cut-paper maquettes at the Art Institute of Chicago, and an immersive recreation of Anne Frank’s Secret Annex at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry. Other notable shows explore the intersection of contemporary art and Caribbean music genres at the MCA Chicago and a site-specific residency by Brendan Fernandes at the Driehaus Museum.

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The historic San Francisco Art Institute campus, which shuttered in 2023 following bankruptcy, is being revitalized as the California Academy of Studio Arts (CASA). Founded by billionaire philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, the new center will offer a free, unaccredited, year-long studio program for up to 30 emerging visual artists. The initiative aims to foster an experimental environment inspired by Black Mountain College, providing mentorship, workshops, and public engagement platforms.

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The Art Institute of Chicago is considering a major expansion that could involve relocating or reshaping the historic Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room. Located on the museum's east side, the 5,700-square-foot room is a preserved architectural landmark originally designed in the 1890s and saved from demolition in the 1970s. While no final decisions have been made, museum officials identified this area as having the highest potential for increasing gallery capacity to showcase more of the institution's permanent collection.

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The Brooklyn Museum is preparing to investigate the restoration of Paul Gauguin’s relief panel, *Te Fare Amu*, which was recently gifted to the institution by the Henry and Rose Pearlman Foundation. The artwork features a crouching nude figure whose genitals were painted over with green pigment by the collector Henry Pearlman in 1954 to bypass U.S. Customs indecency laws. While a 2017 conservation assessment at the Art Institute of Chicago deemed the overpainting too risky to remove, Brooklyn Museum conservators plan to re-evaluate the piece when it arrives for exhibition this fall.

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The Art Institute of Chicago has partnered with the Tuscany-based sculpting studio Ten X to create two marble reimaginations of a rare 8th-century Tang dynasty Bodhisattva. The original limestone sculpture, a centerpiece of the museum’s Asian art collection, has been missing its left arm since it was acquired in 1930, leaving its meditative gesture a mystery. Rather than attempting a traditional restoration, curator Dr. Tao Wang commissioned two distinct versions that explore different historical possibilities for the figure's hand placement based on extensive cross-cultural research.

Venice Biennale curatorial team reveal how they are bringing the late Koyo Kouoh's vision to life

The curatorial team for the 61st Venice Biennale has unveiled the details for the 2026 exhibition, titled "In Minor Keys." The project follows the vision of the late Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman appointed to curate the Biennale, who passed away in May 2024. The exhibition will feature 111 artists and collectives, with a significant focus on the Global South and themes such as Shrines, Schools, and the Creole Garden. The team emphasized that the show is designed as a "collective score" rather than a traditional commentary on world events, prioritizing spiritual rest and radical social connection.