11 must-see highlights at the Art Institute of Chicago
Quick answer
The Art Institute's must-sees are Hopper's Nighthawks, Wood's American Gothic, Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day, Van Gogh's The Bedroom, Monet's Water Lilies, Chagall's America Windows and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Most are on level 2 of the original building.
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The 11 key works, gallery by gallery
- 1
Michigan Avenue entrance
The bronze lions — Edward Kemeys (1894)
The museum's guardians, beside the main entrance steps.
- 2
Gallery 262
Nighthawks — Edward Hopper (1942)
A late-night diner seen from the street. An icon of modern solitude.
- 3
Gallery 263
American Gothic — Grant Wood (1930)
A farmer and his daughter before a Gothic-style house. One of the most parodied images in the US.
- 4
Gallery 240
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — Georges Seurat (1884-1886)
The masterpiece of pointillism, made of countless tiny dabs of colour.
- 5
Gallery 201
Paris Street; Rainy Day — Gustave Caillebotte (1877)
A monumental painting of urban modernity in Haussmann's Paris.
- 6
Gallery 241
The Bedroom — Vincent van Gogh (1889)
One of three versions of the Arles room. The flat colours and skewed perspective are unmistakable.
- 7
Gallery 391
The Old Guitarist — Pablo Picasso (1903-1904)
A Blue Period work with an elongated figure expressing poverty and compassion.
- 8
Gallery 243
Water Lilies — Claude Monet (1906)
The Giverny pond turned almost abstract.
- 9
Gallery 144
America Windows — Marc Chagall (1977)
Blue stained glass made for the US bicentennial, with symbols of the arts.
- 10
Lower level
Thorne Miniature Rooms
1:12-scale interiors of European and American styles, rich in fascinating detail.
- 11
Modern Wing
The Modern Wing — Renzo Piano (2009)
The building is part of the visit: natural light, contemporary art and a link to Millennium Park.
How to see them in one visit
Most are on level 2 and can be walked in a logical order. Our 2-hour route follows that order. If a gallery is closed, the day's map shows where a work has moved. The AnyArt app recognises a painting with your camera and tells its story.
Frequently asked questions
Where is American Gothic?
In gallery 263 on level 2, next to Nighthawks (gallery 262).
Where is La Grande Jatte?
In gallery 240, among the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works on level 2.
Does the Art Institute have Van Gogh and Monet?
Yes: Van Gogh's The Bedroom (gallery 241) and Monet's Water Lilies (gallery 243), among others.
What are the Thorne Rooms?
1:12-scale miniature interiors on the lower level.