The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago as its name suggests is a major art museum devoted to contemporary and modern art. Located in downtown Chicago close to Water Tower Place, the institution had its inception in 1967 and is now one of the biggest venues for contemporary art on the globe. The establishment’s collection encompasses thousands of examples of Post- World War II visual artworks.
The museum has presented a number of noteworthy debut exhibition features including Jeff Koons’ initial solo exhibition in a museum, and Frida Kahlo’s first exhibition in the United States. Koons has the distinction of having established the museum’s record attendance in a subsequent exhibition.
The museum’s extensive collection includes works by such notable names as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Kara Walker, Alexander Calder and Cindy Sherman. The collection includes a wide selection of artistic creations from several different periods. This includes representative examples of 1940s-70s pop art, surrealism, conceptual art and minimalism; also on display are works of 1980s postmodernism. Other highlights at the institution include contemporary sculpture, painting, video, photography, installations and other forms of artwork. Additionally the museum also offers displays of theatre, music and dance as well as multidisciplinary arts. The emphasis is on thought-provoking artworks which possess creative value.
In addition to the exhibitions the MCA features a bookstore, gift shop, a 300 seat capacity theatre, a restaurant and a beautifully terraced and maintained sculpture garden offering superb views of Lake Michigan.
The objective of the MCA is to be a significant and innovative center for the contemporary arts where members of the public can view the noteworthy ideas and work of artists of our time. Visitors will obtain a more profound understanding of the social, historical and cultural contexts of outstanding examples of modern art.
The MCA aims to draw the attention of a wide and diverse receptive audience, creating a sense of a close-knit community. It also intends to be a venue for stimulation, contemplation and discussion regarding contemporary culture and the importance of art in the modern context.
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