Chicago Museums Debut New Contemporary Exhibitions
Chicago's art scene features two new major exhibitions. The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a new show focused on contemporary American sculpture. Concurrently, the Museum of Contemporary Art has opened its "Future Forms" exhibition.
The Art Institute of Chicago will feature the work of multidisciplinary artist Lucas Samaras in "Sitting, Standing, Walking, Looking," which opens on January 31, 2026. The exhibition will showcase his innovative photographs, alongside sculptures and paintings recently gifted to the museum by the Samaras Estate. This offers a broader look into the creative life of the late artist, who was associated with the Fluxus and Neo-Dada movements. Also on view is a comprehensive survey of American architect Bruce Goff, "Bruce Goff: Material Worlds," which runs through March 29, 2026. This exhibition features over 200 works celebrating Goff's imaginative and often flamboyant designs. It is accompanied by smaller shows on his collection of Japanese prints and photographic work of his architecture by Janna Ireland. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, the major winter exhibition is a mid-career survey of artist Firelei Báez, on view through May 31, 2026. This is the most comprehensive exhibition of the Dominican artist's work to date, bringing together large-scale paintings, drawings, and installations that explore themes of folklore, fantasy, and the legacy of colonialism. Looking ahead at the MCA, "Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón" is set to open in April 2026. This groundbreaking exhibition will explore the social and political histories of these influential music and dance genres through the lens of contemporary art. It will feature works from more than 35 artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Edra Soto.
