CityPASS Must-See: Art Institute of Chicago

The Modern Wing from Millennium Park. © 2010, The Art Institute of Chicago

CityPASS is all about showcasing a city’s top attractions at a fraction of the regular price. And, beginning March 1, 2011, CityPASS’s list of things to do in Chicago will include yet another gem: the Art Institute of Chicago.

An ambitious expansion project (completed in May 2009) added the stunning Modern Wing and propelled AIC to second place on the list of America’s largest art museums (New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the top spot). Now encompassing a million square feet (92,903 square meters) of pure imagination, AIC highlights the works of artists from around the world.

Peter Fischli and David Weiss (Swiss, born 1952 and 1946) A Restless Night, from A Quiet Afternoon, 1985 Chromogenic print 11 7/8 x 8 in. © Peter Fischli and David Weiss / Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York

The Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, is a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified structure that connects Chicago’s nearby and always bustling Millennium Park to impressive collections of modern and contemporary painting and sculpture, as well as photography, film, video and architecture. The wing’s first floor is where visitors might see a special exhibition — such as Peter Fischli David Weiss: Questions, the Sausage Photographs, and a Quiet Afternoon (Feb. 3-April 17, 2011) — while the upper floors are dedicated to the works from the permanent collection. The Modern Wing is also home to an open-air sculpture terrace, a mezzanine cafe, a fine-dining restaurant, and a pedestrian bridge to Millennium Park.

Chicago CityPASS (beginning March 1, 2011) includes prepaid general admission to the Art Institute of Chicago and a complimentary audio tour. Some special exhibitions may require an additional fee.