After undergoing refurbishment since January 2024, the Art Institute of Chicago is set to unveil its redesigned 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century European design galleries this Friday.
The renovations have resulted in a configuration that increases the display capacity by 40%, showcasing a total of 310 objects, including over 80 items that have never been exhibited before.
Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of pieces, from a striking German Rococo punch bowl that was featured at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, to an English neo-Gothic sideboard and a pair of red-glazed Chinese porcelain vases, which were imported to Paris in the mid-1700s and mounted in ornate gilded bronze.
The revamped 4,500-square-foot space has transitioned from four galleries into two well-defined areas: a long main gallery that feels remarkably open and an intimate adjoining room.
Ellenor Alcorn, the Art Institute’s chair and curator of applied arts of Europe, commented on the redesign, stating, “It feels completely different but it is exactly the same footprint.”
She further described the central gallery as an expansive, grand hallway that allows viewers to take in various rich materials at a glance, such as marquetry, ivory-inlaid ebony, lacquer, gilt wood, silver, and gilt bronze.
The adjacent gallery marks a significant milestone for the museum as it is devoted entirely to the exceptional ceramics collection from this period.
This space features one of the finest collections of Meissen and Du Paquier porcelain in the country, displayed dramatically within two 14-foot-tall exhibition cases.
Continuing its commitment to showcasing European design, the museum’s renovation connects seamlessly with the adjacent medieval and Renaissance galleries, as well as the 1900-45 decorative arts that intermingle with European painting collections.
Alcorn noted that this section of the collection is perhaps the strongest, emphasizing that Chicago collectors have demonstrated significant interest in 18th-century Rococo and neo-classical design, contributing to the museum’s extensive holdings through donations.
Officially named the Eloise W. Martin Galleries for the Applied Arts of Europe in 2009, these renovated spaces honor a Chicago collector and benefactor who endowed both the gallery and Alcorn’s position.
The ambitious renovation project, which initiated over three years ago, represents the first gallery redesign by the Spanish architecture firm Barozzi Veiga, commissioned in 2019 to develop an architectural master plan for the museum and reimagine its collection presentations.
While the museum opted not to disclose the total cost of the renovation, the focus was on making the galleries more appealing to 21st-century visitors.
To achieve this, the spaces feature a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic, moving away from the inclusion of period design elements like moldings or wainscoting typically found in other museums.
Alcorn remarked, “So you have, I hope, a lovely tension between the contemporary architectural setting and these very rich and diverse works of art. I think it is really refreshing.”
Unlike previous installations, the new design incorporates freestanding exhibit cases that allow objects to be viewed from multiple angles, making it easier for the curators to rotate selections approximately every six months.
As the galleries evolve, Alcorn expressed excitement about the potential for subtle changes to encourage repeat visits, stating, “There are worthy pieces that we didn’t have room for, but we will be making subtle changes in the galleries so each time a visitor comes, they will discover something new.”
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