tadao ando gallery at the art institute of chicago

People will wax poetic about the Chagall Windows and tell you not to snooze on the Thorne Miniature Rooms, and rightly so! They’re important pieces of Chicago’s history and staples of the Art Institute’s seemingly encyclopedic collection.

My personal favorite gem is the Tadao Ando Gallery, a site-specific installation of 16 wooden pillars installed in a darkened room (Gallery 109). When I worked at the ‘Tute many years ago, I used to come sit on the single bench in the space, quietly meditating and centering myself. The space is calming, minimal, and feels like a spiritual respite amidst a bustling museum on a busy downtown street. Periodically, the curators swap the surrounding glass cases with ceramics and textiles. And on occasion, the space is activated with performances and contemporary interventions, like a light installation by Jan Tichy.

This spot is one of my favorite in the entire city.