Millennium Park Foundation

After a long 4-year pause due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to announce our newest installation: Franz West: Millennium Park. This exhibit is a momentous occasion as it marks our first post-mortem showing of an artist, featuring the remarkable works of the late Franz West. Franz West, an Austrian artist renowned for his innovative and provocative public art, has left an indelible mark on the art world. His works challenge conventional perceptions and invite viewers to engage in a dialogue with art in a public space. The featured pieces in our installation are Dorit, Kugeln, and Stonehenge. Each of these works exemplifies West's unique ability to blend humor, abstraction, and interaction, creating an immersive experience for all who visit. We are excited to welcome you to the exhibition, opening this Friday, July 26, located in the South Boeing Gallery, off Monroe behind the Crown Fountain. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our esteemed curator, Lucas Cowan, who has returned after many years to reignite the vibrant energy of the "old Millennium Park" in the Boeing Galleries. A special thanks to Kelly Reynolds and Kristina Berger from David Zwirner Gallery for generously loaning us these magnificent pieces. We also want to express our appreciation to JP Culligan and the team at Terry Dowd for their meticulous work in collecting and installing the artworks. Lastly, a big thank you to Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) for working with us to make this installation possible. Join us in celebrating the legacy of Franz West and the revival of public art in Millennium Park. We can't wait to see you there! Attached are some behind-the-scenes snapshots of the Stonehenge installtion! #MillenniumParkFoundation #FranzWest #PublicArt #BoeingGalleries #Chicago

"Millennium Park's 20th anniversary celebrations continue this week with a very 2024 announcement about installations that bring art to the public via augmented reality. Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Millennium Park Foundation announced new temporary public art installations coming to the Park, including physical works by one of the world’s most recognized sculptors, Franz West, as well as world by Chicago-based artists Claire Ashley, Faheem Majeed, Yvette Mayorga and Carlos Rolón." Thank you to Chicago Gallery News for the amazing write-up on the incredible artists and new art exhibitions at Millennium Park!

I am proud to announce the unveiling of “Augmented Chicago: Inaugural Realities” (on view now through November 2025) in Chicago’s Millennium Park. It was a true pleasure to curate Millennium Park’s 20th Anniversary exhibition. Over the past 8 months, the artists worked with the amazing Hoverlay to bring their projects to life. “Augmented Chicago: Inaugural Realities” showcases the innovative works of four internationally celebrated Chicago-based artists, Claire Ashley, Faheem Majeed, Yvette Mayorga and Carlos Rolón, pioneering the use of Augmented Reality (AR) for the first time in the vibrant setting of Millennium Park. This exhibition invites visitors to experience a groundbreaking fusion of technology and artistry, transforming the Park’s landscape into a dynamic canvas of digital creativity. By highlighting AR as a new tool and medium in the world of public art, these artists explore new dimensions of interaction, engagement, and expression, offering a fresh perspective on the urban environment. A special thank you to Millennium Park Foundation for the invitation to come back to curate the exhibition in a space I worked in for over 10 years, and where my passion for public art and artist within public space became my passion and career. Stay tuned for more videos and images of these amazing artworks! #augmentedchicago

??Get ready for the Millennium Park Summer Music Series! ?? Join us at the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion for a spectacular lineup of musical artists! Enjoy FREE admission to these incredible performances: July 1: Charlie Musselwhite & Ivan Singh July 11: Buscabulla & French Police July 15: Seun Kuti & The Philharmonik July 22: Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain with Rakesh Chaurasia, and Arooj Aftab July 29: GZA (w/ The Phunky Nomads) & Yaya Bey August 5: Protoje & Madison McFerrin August 8: Corinne Bailey Rae & Terrace Martin with James Fauntleroy ?? Event entrances at Randolph Street and Monroe Street. ? Gates open at 5pm, with a pre-show at 5:30pm, and performances from 6:30-9pm. The Millennium Park Summer Music Series is supported by the Millennium Park Foundation, with American Sign Language Interpretation provided for all concerts on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. #MillenniumPark #SummerMusicSeries #FreeConcerts

It was nearly 20 years ago to this day, that I remember the Gala opening of Millennium Park, as each of the iconic areas held its own announcement and a themed version of a ribbon cutting.?That evening, the first of them was in Lurie Garden.?Ann Lurie stepped up to the microphone to share her message that this place was certainly meant to dazzle us, but also to endure, and to outlive us all. “We know that this Garden will touch and intrigue Chicagoans and visitors from all over the world for generations to come.” --Ann Lurie She then led a release of Monarch butterflies, a symbol of the Garden’s embrace of the natural world, a place of restoration of the land and of the human spirit. Ann Lurie spent much of her life caring and nurturing, first as a nurse, and then as a thoughtful philanthropist who understood the need for and the power of healing.?One need only look to the Lurie Children’s Hospital, Robert Lurie Cancer Center, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Gilda’s Club, PAWS, founding a clinic in Kenya and contributing to schools in Ethiopia to discover the reach of her compassionate and charitable altruism. We supporters of Millennium Park were fortunate that Ann was keenly aware that for our Garden to flourish, it would need the greatest of care, and agreed to a most generous endowment that would insure its maintenance at the highest standard.?She knew that all living things require attention to their needs to grow and thrive and regenerate.?She believed in the Park as an oasis, free and open to all.?She believed in the critical nature of culture and the arts, that was at the heart of the Park, as a means to insure a vibrant and healthy City. We remember her today – and always.?Her spirit will live on, among the flowers and the grasses -- beyond the generations -- just as she believed that it should be for Lurie Garden with caring and nurturing hands and hearts. Donna La Pietra Chair, Millennium Park Foundation