four things that inspired me at the Art Institute of Chicago

Last month, I went to Chicago for the One of a Kind Show. And while I was there, I took an afternoon off from set-up to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. I’ve been to this museum multiple times, but it had been at least five years since my last trip, and wandering through the museum was a bit like catching up with an old friend.

There were so many pieces I saw and loved, and I had the chance to to catch up with some of my old favorites. But there were a few pieces in particular that stood out on this trip (some of them familiar, and some of them new to me):

1. The Annunciation by Jay DeFeo

While I don’t remember seeing this painting before in Chicago, I do remember seeing it as part of the Jay DeFeo retrospective at the Whitney back in 2012. But this time, it really stopped me in my tracks. From a distance, it has such a presence. And the detail is equally compelling. Not only was it a work of art I wanted to savor, but it also made me feel really inspired to return to my paints. (But more on that later.)

2. Black Rock with Blue Sky and White Clouds by Georgia O’Keeffe

I’ve always loved Georgia O’Keeffe, and I find both her work and her life deeply inspiring. (So much so that I made a special trip to Brooklyn last summer to see the Living Modern exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.) And while I love many of her paintings, I found myself particularly drawn to this one. There’s just something about it that feels incredibly powerful and tactile at the same time.

3. Ancient Chinese Bronzes

And speaking of tactile, I was also incredibly drawn to the vessels in the special exhibition, Mirroring China’s Past: Emperors and their Bronzes. There were so many pieces in this exhbition that I loved, but overall I was drawn to the bulbous forms and textures, both intentional and the result of centuries of age.

4. Helen Frankenthaler Prints

Sadly, I encountered this exhibition as I was on my way out, so my brain was feeling more than a little full. (Side note: is there a term for feeling overstuffed with art? Because there should be.) Still, I couldn’t resist spending some time digesting these prints by Helen Frankenthaler, especially because they showed process notes and sketches in addition to the finished prints.

I’d forgotten how much wonderful art this museum holds, and now that I’m feeling so inspired from this trip, I’m vowing not to let it be so long until my next one!