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A Headdress for Dance
Take a close look at this West African dance headdress, which represents the universal mother as an ideal of the female role in society, and consider how its appearance encompasses choreography, music, and song.
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From Ancient Greece to Chicago
Learn more about this vase—created in Greece more than 2,000 years ago and transported to Chicago in the late 19th century—and see how it became one of the first pieces to join the Art Institute’s collection.
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Conserving a Carousel Horse
Carousels harken back to a bygone era. Only about 200 of the nearly 2,000 wooden carousels that once operated across the country are in use today. The conservation of this jumping horse offers a glimpse into its colorful history.
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Forged in Steel
Trace the many steps taken to make this elaborate armor, from the import of steel ingots to the shaping delicate patterns and details—and a whole lot of fire and pounding in between.
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Anti-Slavery Medallion
On this medallion, an African man, kneeling and shackled, poses a powerful question. The medallion was used to advocate for the abolition (or end) of the African slave trade.
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The Assumption of the Virgin
One of the most important paintings of El Greco’s career, "The Assumption of the Virgin" has become an iconic work in the Art Institute collection. Learn about the painting’s origins, its journey to the museum, and a recent endeavor to clean and preserve the work for future visitors.