Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

06/22/2026

Starting this Saturday, find vitality in the simple things.

Through discarded wood and thrift store finds, Kenzi Shiokava's totems and boxes granted second lives to discarded objects. This important museum survey—the first for Shiokava and his five decades of work—opens with a conversation with art historians Aram Moshayedi, Michiko Okano, and Hamza Walker.

Get tickets → go.mcachicago.org/shiokava-talk

06/20/2026

Free art and expression take over the museum with a day of creativity, connection, and 21Minus energy.

Join us starting at 1 pm for LIVE MUSIC 🎶, DANCE 💃, and PERFORMANCE ART 🎭 organized by .

06/19/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the educators who shared their time, insights, and passion with us this year.

Hear from members of this year’s Teacher Institute cohort as they reflect on the program. Our Teacher Institute is a free professional development program designed to support classroom educators through workshops, trainings, and meaningful opportunities to grow.

Interested in joining us next season? Sign up for our mailing list to be the first to hear about upcoming educator programs → go.mcachicago.org/edu-mail

Until then, enjoy your summer! ☀️

06/18/2026

Make some memories at the MCA this weekend! ❤️

Bring the dads and father figures in your life for a day filled with community, music, creativity, and connection.

Join us Saturday for our annual teen takeover of live art, performance, and more during 21Minus: Live! Plus, don’t miss a free tour of Dancing the Revolution on Sunday at 2 pm.

Plan your visit → go.mcachicago.org/visit

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Photo: Family Day | Playoffs, MCA Chicago. May 10, 2025. Photo: Natasha Moustache © MCA Chicago.

06/18/2026

What a moment for Chicago! After much anticipation, the Obama Foundation opens this weekend.

We’re especially excited to see how the Center weaves art into everyday life in Chicago—in fact, most of the works commissioned for the Center are freely accessible to the public. Featuring artists like Nick Cave, Theaster Gates, Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, and Lorna Simpson, the collection underscores the vital role artists play in shaping how we experience community, history, and place. The Guardian has a wonderful preview of the Center and its collection: go.mcachicago.org/opc.

Congratulations to all who contributed to the Obama Presidential Center, and to the visionary artists whose work will help define this new cultural landmark for generations to come.

You can view a few of these artists' works in our current exhibitions—we're just a Chicago Transit Authority 10 bus ride away from the Center. Plan your visit today!

Original works by 30 artists have been commissioned by the Obamas alongside vital pieces of memorabilia for visitors to appreciate

06/17/2026

What is this object and why does it matter?

Using those simple questions as a jumping off point, artists, curators, and others take a deep dive into one work in our collection in our Object Lesson series.

In the most recent video, Brooklyn-based curator CJ Salapare introduces a painting by Ray Yoshida. View it in full → go.mcachicago.org/ol21

06/16/2026

😎 Tuesdays on the Terrace kicks off tonight with Sir Kahil El'Zabar and his band!

While all priority entry tickets have been claimed, try our standby line or show up with your membership card. Gates open at 4 pm; music starts at 5:30.

Don't miss tomorrow's ticket drop for The Afro Cuban exchange at noon!

06/15/2026

“For Caribbean people, music and dance have always been political.”
—Carla Acevedo-Yates

The Chicago Reader spoke with Carla and several artists featured in Dancing the Revolution in their recent review of the exhibition. Give it a read, then plan your visit to see, hear, and feel your way through this story of migration, resistance, and music!

🔗 go.mcachicago.org/dtr-reader

“Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón” at the MCA Chicago shows the joy and resistance of Caribbean culture.

06/13/2026

What we're doing this weekend: Heading to Humboldt Park for the debut of The Floating Museum's fourth monument, DIGNIDAD, during Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas / Puerto Rican Festival's 48th Annual People's Parade!

Created by artist Iván Argote and Dancing the Revolution curator Carla Acevedo-Yates, DIGNIDAD takes to the streets mounted on a truck, moving throughout the city as a monument, a word, and a collective request.

The full lineup features poetry, music, and conversation before DIGNIDAD begins its citywide journey, including a stop at the MCA → go.mcachicago.org/dignidad

Continue your celebrations with a visit or tour of Dancing the Revolution → go.mcachicago.org/dtr

DIGNIDAD / Floating Monument / Chicago Illinois USA / 2026 - / Description / Iván Argote and Floating Museum, DIGNIDAD, 2026, wood, cement, fiber mesh,...

06/12/2026

Next Saturday, discover new artists, new perspectives, and new ways to engage with culture when artists under 21 take over the museum for 21Minus: Live!

This year’s program celebrates the ways music and performance open doors to art and culture, creating a welcoming entry point into the museum’s exhibitions and creative spaces. Organized by Teen Creative Agency at MCA Chicago.

Learn more →

Don't miss this annual exposition of workshops, performances, and art installations by the next generation of artists.