2008 Show Overview

Art Chicago 2008
Art Chicago 2008 drew 50,000 curators, collectors and enthusiasts to The Merchandise Mart from April 25 – 28. The centerpiece of Artropolis, Chicago’s city-wide celebration of art, antiques and culture, Art Chicago attracted 180 of the world’s premier galleries, which displayed works from newly created to modern masters.

The strong, balanced and diverse survey of contemporary and modern art included works of more than 2,000 artists. Aisle upon aisle featured spectacular works including those by Bridget Riley, Louise Bourgeois, Cy Twombly, David Hockney, Pablo Picasso, Vik Muniz, Rene Magritte, Angelo Filomeno, NeoRauch, John Chamberlain, Per Bak Jensen, Rodney Graham, Sally Mann, Lee Bontecou, Alec South and others. Additionally, 30 sculptures and installations by such noted artists as Jaume Plensa, Mark diSuvero and John McCracken were part of an open-to-public display on first floor and around perimeter of The Merchandise Mart. The overall quality of the artwork was heralded as one of the finest compilations this city has seen at an art fair in a decade.

Artropolis 2008
Artropolis, Chicago’s citywide celebration of arts, antiques and culture, attracted thousands of visitors to participate in a wide array of art and entertainment experiences unique unto Chicago. Events hosted at major museums to small galleries, world-class concert halls to cutting edge clubs, lakefront parks to exclusive private parties contributed to the spectacular Artropolis experience. Artropolis offered seminars, guided tours, music, theatre and dance performances through unique special partnerships with more than 80 cultural institutions and entertainment venues throughout the city.