“Always free, for everyone!” That’s the motto of the DePaul Art Museum. This world-class museum sits in the heart of Lincoln Park on DePaul University’s campus.
The DePaul Art Museum’s journey began in 1985. Back then, it was a hidden gem inside DePaul’s Richardson Library. Now, it stands proudly in its own $7.8 million building, opened in 2011. Antunovich Associates designed the three-story, 15,200-square-foot structure. Look for the vast, arched glass window that invites you inside.
The DePaul Art Museum boasts a permanent collection of over 3,500 objects. Its strengths lie in international modern and contemporary art. You’ll find art with direct connections to Chicago too. The museum enriches DePaul University’s commitments. These commitments include excellence, diversity, and social concerns.
Inside the DePaul Art Museum, exhibitions rotate twice a year. These exhibitions are accompanied by dynamic public events. Past events have tackled social justice issues. Feminism, race equality, and inclusiveness have all been explored. “Yoga for Black Lives” and “Movement Workshop with Brendan Fernandes & Paige Fraser” are examples.
The permanent collection is diverse. It includes a 16th-century Madonna and Child painting. You’ll also see recent paintings up to 2016. Discover beautiful photos, drawings, and sculptures. The DePaul Art Museum features local artists. It also showcases social justice works and international art. Art from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe are all represented.
The DePaul Art Museum displays objects from over 50 ethnic groups in Africa. Sculptures, wooden masks, and ritual objects await. Architectural drawings and Chicago imagists are also part of the collection. Don’t miss the WPA Printmaking/Needles Collection and Polish posters. Latin-American art and photos from the Institute of Design add to the richness.
The DePaul Art Museum is accessible. It’s located near the Fullerton CTA Brown/Red/Purple Line Station. The Fullerton #74 and Sedgwick #37 bus stops are also close. Limited free street parking is available. The museum validates parking at The Whole Foods garage on N. Sheffield Street.
The DePaul Art Museum presents three to five temporary exhibitions each year. One past exhibition was “Edgar Miller: Anti-Modern, 1917–1967.” It showcased Miller’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures. It also featured his printmaking, illustration, and graphic design. Textiles, ceramics, jewelry, woodcarving, and stained glass were included.
Another exhibition, “The Spaces We Call Home,” featured six Chicago-based artists. They explored the complexities of placemaking. They used diverse materials and techniques. Folk art, modernism, and twenty-first century technology were all incorporated.
Step inside the DePaul Art Museum and connect with art. Explore ideas that reflect human experience. Discover innovative artistic voices. And remember, it’s always free.