This summer I was able to go to Chicago with my father for a week. The architecture and sheer magnitude of the buildings in the downtown area is definitely a sight to behold, but one building that really stuck out to me was The Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute is located right in the heart of downtown and it sticks out because of how large and emphatic it is. The steps up to the museum are guarded by two giant bronze statues of lions that have stood there at the Michigan Avenue entrance since the museum portion of the institute  opened in 1893.

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The inside of the building was just as majestic as the outside. Right as you walk in, you’re faced with an elegant marble staircase that leads you off into the many wonders inside the museum.

The exhibits were amazing and very extensive, including over 300,000 works of art from artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Henri Matisse, among many many others. The rooms that the works were on display in were very large and open, inviting you to come up for a closer look at the artistry of some of the greatest artists of all time. Walking through it I was in constant awe of the art and architecture around me. The modern wing, which was added in the early 2000s, was a very unique and fascinating place. The architecture was very sleek and minimalist in nature, and the outside landscape blended into the entrance very well.

I wish I could have spent more time there, and I would love to go visit this museum again. Seeing some of my favorite artist’s paintings up close and personal was something I will never forget.