Art Excursions

Private Tours of Chicago Art, Architecture and Special Exhibits

Art Excursions is your resource for touring Chicago art museums, public sculpture, and architecture with the experts! Whether your visit in Chicago lasts 2 hours or 2 months, "the Windy City" offers visitors art and architectural treasures that are famous worldwide. The information below will enable you to experience it all first-hand with Art Excursions and enjoy memories that will last a lifetime.

WHAT IS ART EXCURSIONS and WHO ARE THE TOUR PROVIDERS? (click here for more detail)

Briefly stated, Art Excursions provides a complete service to individuals and groups who are interested in educational experiences of Chicago's famous art and architecture - all within a positive, enthusiastic environment that makes the experience enjoyable and worry-free. The company is owned and operated by university professors and art historians, Jeff Mishur and Michelle Paluch-Mishur. Lifelong residents of Chicago, Jeff and Michelle have been leading tours in the city for more than fifteen years.

WHAT TYPES OF PRIVATE OR GROUP TOURS ARE AVAILABLE?

The following list represents a number of popular tour themes. If you are looking for something beyond what you see here, please email us.

LOOP ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

This tour traces the birth of the modern skyscraper and its evolution into the International Style. Featured buildings include The Rookery, Carson Pirie Scott, The Reliance Building, and much more.

RIVER ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

This tour focuses on the diversity of styles visible around the Chicago River. Styles from Beaux Arts to Postmodernism will be covered in structures such as The Tribune Tower, The Wrigley Building, The Merchandise Mart, and much more.

ART INSTITUTE IMPRESSIONISM AND POST-IMPRESSIONISM TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

This tour focuses on highlights of the outstanding collection of late 19th century French painting at the Art Institute of Chicago. Learn about works by Monet, Renoir, van Gogh and others that are on the must-see list of Chicago visitors from around the world.

ART INSTITUTE AMERICAN ART TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

This tour focuses on highlights of the outstanding collection of 19th and 20th century American painting at the Art Institute of Chicago. Learn about works by Homer, O'Keeffe, Cassatt, and Whistler. This tour also features such icons of American culture as Grant Wood's American Gothic and Edward Hopper's Nighthawks (assuming these two works are not on loan or in conservation).

PUBLIC SCULPTURE WALKING TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

This tour takes a close look at a diverse display of public sculpture in Chicago by internationally famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Lorado Taft, and many more.

MILLENNIUM PARK TOUR (Length: 1.5 hours)

This tour features Chicago's newest attraction: Millennium Park (opened July 2004). Highlights of the tour include Frank O. Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture, Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden.

*NEW* ART INSTITUTE MODERN WING TOUR (Length: 1.5 - 2 hours)

Beginning in May 2009, this tour examines the new modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The tour focuses on highlights of the museum's collection of modern art and provides information on the architecture of this wing designed by Renzo Piano. Some artists featured on this tour include Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Magritte, Kandinsky, Richter, Warhol and Rothko.

PRICING

For individuals interested in the tour topics listed above, our price is $40 per person with a minimum of $160 per tour. For group tours, please email us for pricing.

To book a private or group tour, please email us at artexcursions@yahoo.com or call 630-671-9745 and we will respond back with a confirmation. At time of confirmation, we will notify you of the location of the starting point for each tour and provide directions.

WHAT CUSTOM TOURS ARE AVAILABLE?

In addition to the standard weekly tours offered above, Art Excursions can design a custom tour to suit the interests of any group of six persons or more. Please email us at artexcursions@yahoo.com or call 630-671-9745 and we will get back to you with suggestions about touring 1893 World's Fair (World's Columbian Exposition or "White City") site, Chicago churches and stained glass exhibits, Frank Lloyd Wright homes, small art museums, private collections, and other exciting possibilities.

INTERESTED IN ART EXCURSIONS TO OTHER CITIES? JUST CLICK HERE.