Throughout history, many artists were friends, while others were enemies. Some were both! This Family Day, visitors of all ages are invited to explore creative friendships and rivalries across the collection through art making, learning, poetry, and play with visiting artists.
Activities in the Ryan Learning Center are always free. The Art Institute offers free admission for kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18 every day we’re open.
activities
Letter to a Friend
11:00–1:00 | Studio B
Send a letter, poem, or postcard to a friend! This writing activity will include the Poems While You Wait collective as a special guest.
Storytime
12:30–1:00 and 2:00–2:30 | Art Exchange
Join us for an interactive storytime all about famous friends from the museum and beyond.
Friendship Bracelets
11:00–3:00 | Studio A
Make, share, and trade friendship bracelets in this activity led by the Art Institute Teen Council.
Friends and Frenemies Self-Guided Tour
11:00–3:00 | Available in the RLC
This self-guided tour for families explores creative friendships and rivalries across the collection.
The Artist’s Studio: Strange Sketchbooks
11:00–3:00 | Art Exchange
Create your own surrealist sketchbook inspired by the exhibition Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds.
RLC Cafeteria
11:00–3:00 | Classrooms 2 and 3
Bring your own snacks or lunch to this space to take a break and refuel between activities.
about the artists
Poems While You Wait is a team of poets and their typewriters who provide the public with an unexpected and unpretentious encounter with poetry.
Valeria Osornio is an artist and storyteller with a background in early childhood literacy, dedicated to creating joyful and engaging experiences for young learners. By weaving together stories, music, and visual arts, she brings books to life in ways that inspire imagination and foster a love of reading.
