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Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

ArchitectureArtClosed · Opens 10amFrom $22Chicago (CTA Red Line) — four blocks west

Founded in 1967 in a former bakery on East Ontario Street, the MCA is one of the largest contemporary art venues in the world, holding thousands of post-1945 works by Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Alexander Calder and others. Since 1996 it has occupied Josef Paul Kleihues's cast-aluminium and limestone building, reached by a monumental flight of front steps facing Mies van der Rohe Way. The museum runs gallery-style: exhibitions turn over constantly, mixing loans with the permanent collection rather than sitting in fixed displays. A busy live-arts programme of dance, music and performance runs alongside the galleries, and the restaurant Marisol occupies the ground floor.

What's On

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Nearest station: Chicago (CTA Red Line) — four blocks west, Grand (CTA Red Line), CTA bus routes 3, 10 and 66

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Hours

MonClosed
Tue10:00–21:00
WedToday10:00–17:00
Thu10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–17:00
Sat10:00–17:00
Sun10:00–17:00

Admission

From $22

Chicago residents $19 adult / $10 students, teachers and 65+; non-residents $22 adult / $14 concession. Free for anyone 18 and under, Illinois teachers, visitors with disabilities and a caregiver, veterans and active military, police and fire, and MCA members. Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays 5-9 pm.

Nearby

Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Architecture7 min walk

Chicago Architecture Center

Architecture13 min walk

Chicago History Museum

Children22 min walk

Art Institute of Chicago

Architecture24 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago cost?
Standard adult admission to Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is $22. Chicago residents $19 adult / $10 students, teachers and 65+; non-residents $22 adult / $14 concession. Free for anyone 18 and under, Illinois teachers, visitors with disabilities and a caregiver, veterans and active military, police and fire, and MCA members. Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays 5-9 pm.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is open Tuesday 10am-9pm; Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm; closed Mondays. Closed Thanksgiving Day (26 Nov 2026), Christmas Day (25 Dec 2026) and New Year's Day (1 Jan 2027). Illinois residents enter free on Tuesdays 5-9pm.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, United States, in the Near North Side / Streeterville area of Chicago. The nearest stations are Chicago (CTA Red Line) — four blocks west, Grand (CTA Red Line), CTA bus routes 3, 10 and 66.
What can I see at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Kleihues's limestone fortress off Michigan Avenue, where art made in your lifetime gets four floors and a stage. Current highlights include The Kleihues Building and Sculpture Garden, The MCA Collection, Slow Dance.
Do I need to book Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Céline from Paris, France, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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