The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum The Richard H. Driehaus Museum explores the art, architecture, and design of the late 19th century to the present.
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The collection and exhibitions are presented in an immersive experience within the restored Nickerson Mansion, completed in 1883.

  -- in anticipation of the next installation in our 'A Tale of Today' contemporary art series, we're taking a look at p...
01/09/2025

-- in anticipation of the next installation in our 'A Tale of Today' contemporary art series, we're taking a look at past ATOT exhibitions.

The first exhibition in the series was dedicated to the early work of Yinka Shonibare CBE. In an interview about the exhibition, Shobinare explains his work: "Nineteenth-century interiors, for me, evoke colonialism. So, in a way there is a kind of intrusion that I like to make into those spaces. It's almost like trying to reverse time, because I, perhaps, wouldn't have been allowed to go into those places, or even eat in those places, or socialize in those places. Obviously, because of the civil rights movement, I'm now able to actually enter those spaces and, in a way, talk back to that history. And I think that's what my work is doing. It's trying to have some kind of conversation with that relationship, my own history and my own background. How do I speak back to history, in that sense? And so, my work tries to do that, but, also, in a kind of playful, humorous way."

The first piece depicted here, "Party Time: Re-imagine America" (2009) was commissioned by the Newark Museum for their 1885 Ballantine House, making it a particularly apt installation for the Driehaus Museum's 1883 Nickerson Mansion.

Open February 7, 'A Tale of Today: Materialities' invites living artists to select a material from the Museum, research its history, and produce site-specific installations designed to uncover hidden cultural, historical, and ecological networks, connecting the fabric of the Mansion to distant shores, traditions, and ideologies. With guest curator Giovanni Aloi.

Photo Credits:
Slides 1 & 2: Michael Tropea
Slide 3: James Cohan

Now that we're all *actually* back at work post-holidays, here are our ins and outs for 2025 ✨
01/08/2025

Now that we're all *actually* back at work post-holidays, here are our ins and outs for 2025 ✨

We will be closed until January 24 for annual maintenance and conservation. See you on the 25th!
01/06/2025

We will be closed until January 24 for annual maintenance and conservation. See you on the 25th!

01/03/2025

In his design of the S. C. Johnson & Company administration building, Frank Lloyd Wright aimed to bring nature and light to a bleak industrial area of Racine, Wisconsin. Nature wasn’t present in the area, so Wright designed the building without windows, instead incorporating glass tubing, high ceilings, and a forest of “lily pad” poles throughout.

Photographed by Swedish-American industrial & commercial photographer Torkel Korling, Wright’s innovative building warranted a full spread in LIFE magazine, solidifying the architect’s position as a household name. In these clips from our audio guide, architecture critic Lee Bey examines the relationship between Wright’s design, Korling’s photos, and the LIFE magazine feature.

Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright closes this Sunday! Visit now to hear more experts and artists discuss the prolific architect and the photographers who documented his work. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is our collaborating partner in this exhibition.

Object Info:
1. S. C. Johnson & Company administration building, Racine, WI, 1936, Frank Lloyd Wright, architect; Torkel Korling, photographer, Collection of Tim Samuelson

2. Spread from Life Magazine, Article on S. C. Johnson administration building with photographs by Torkel Korling, May 8, 1939, Collection of Tim Samuelson, Photographed by Robert Heishman

12/31/2024

As we reflect on a remarkable 2024, here are a few stand-out moments worth celebrating:

🏛️ In June, we hosted our Grand Reopening, adding 30,000 square feet to our campus with the 1926 Murphy Auditorium.

✨For the first time, we offered Free Wednesday evenings – complimentary admission from 4-7pm – and access to special performances and programs once a month during our Third Wednesday Nights.

🖼️ We also hosted three new exhibitions:

🔥A Tale of Today: Sif Itona Westerberg marked the fifth year of our contemporary series, deepening our dialogue between our past and present.
💎Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective featured 400 years of rare jewelry collected by Chicagoans.
📸Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright presented new scholarship on Frank Lloyd Wright and the impact of photography on his work.

Follow along to see how we continue to expand access to extraordinary art, architecture, and design for all in 2025 ⭐

📸 photos by Kyle Flubacker, Bob., Robin Subar, Jeremy Lawson, Brian Griffin

📣 Last Chance 📣 Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright closes in one week. Run to the Driehaus Museum now to see what other vi...
12/29/2024

📣 Last Chance 📣 Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright closes in one week. Run to the Driehaus Museum now to see what other visitors have called "fabulous," "inspiring," "awesome," and "unexpected...in a good way!" 🏃📷✨

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is our collaborating partner in this exhibition. Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Northern Trust.

Photo Credits:
Slides 2 & 6: Robin Subar Robin Subar Photography
Slides 3, 4, 5: Robert Heishman

Object Info:
Slide 1: Wright's Hands, Pedro Guerrero, 1953, Courtesy the Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero/© The Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero

Slide 3: Hillside Home School Photos, Frank Lloyd Wright, photographer, Images Courtesy of Eric M. O’Malley/OA+D Archives

Slide 4: George S. Sturges House, Los Angeles, CA, Frank Lloyd Wright, architect; Pedro E. Guerrero, photographer, Courtesy the Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero/© The Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero

Slide 5: Henry Fuermann's Camera, Originally produced by the Rochester Optical Co., Rochester, N.Y. (1895–1903) and then by the Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y. (1903–1915), Collection of Bryan Fuermann

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate 🎄🕎🕯️Thank you to everyone who came together to m...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate 🎄🕎🕯️

Thank you to everyone who came together to make our so merry and bright ✨

Photos by Robert Salazar

Check out this Gilded Age feast for some last-minute holiday dining inspiration 🎁🍽️✨Which dish will you add to your holi...
12/23/2024

Check out this Gilded Age feast for some last-minute holiday dining inspiration 🎁🍽️✨

Which dish will you add to your holiday menu this year?

12/21/2024

Explore the Nickerson Mansion with us on the darkest day of the year 👀🔦✨

Video by Bob.

Thank you to everyone who joined our free hygge silent book club last night 📚☕️ Participants enjoyed cozy snacks, a crac...
12/19/2024

Thank you to everyone who joined our free hygge silent book club last night 📚☕️ Participants enjoyed cozy snacks, a crackling fireplace, and most importantly, uninterrupted time to read✨

Follow us to be the first to know about upcoming programs & events 💃

We are SO excited to be the Chicago venue for this special tour 💃✨Metro Presents:Lucy Dacus at the Driehaus Museum’s Mur...
12/17/2024

We are SO excited to be the Chicago venue for this special tour 💃✨

Metro Presents:
Lucy Dacus at the Driehaus Museum’s Murphy Auditorium
Thursday, February 20
$59
Doors: 7PM Show: 8PM

Register for a chance to buy tickets: https://laylo.com/lucydacus

**For a chance to purchase tickets, you MUST register via ticket provider Seated to enter the ticket lottery

**Lottery registration ends Thursday, December 19 at 11AM CST

**Seated will compile all lottery entries and process transactions once final ticket winners have been chosen

**Please note: The Driehaus Museum is not handling ticketing for this event. For more info, visit https://support.seated.com/hc/en-us

12/16/2024

Some things are worth a closer look 🌟🔍

What will you discover on your next trip to the Driehaus Museum?

🎬 video by .mov

12/13/2024

In 1939, 22 year old Pedro Guerrero traveled from his home in Mesa, Arizona to Scottsdale to practice photography. His subject, architecture school Taliesin West, had opened just two years prior, and Guerrero asked for a meeting with the head architect. Guerrero shared his portfolio with Frank Lloyd Wright, launching a seven-decade career in architecture photography. In these clips from our audio guide, Co-Creative Director of Chicago Humanities Lauren M. Pacheco describes Pedro Guerrero’s work and his relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright.

Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright closes January 5. Visit now to hear more experts and artists discuss the prolific architect and the photographers who documented his work. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is our collaborating partner in this exhibition

Object Info:
1. Pedro Guerrero, Photographer Unknown, Courtesy the Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero/© The Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero

2. Wright's Hands, Pedro Guerrero, 1953, Courtesy the Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero/© The Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero

3. George S. Sturges House, Los Angeles, CA, Frank Lloyd Wright, architect; Pedro E. Guerrero, photographer, Courtesy the Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero/© The Estate of Pedro E. Guerrero

12/06/2024

In 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright traveled abroad for the first time in his life. During his three month journey across Japan, Wright visited significant historical sites, observing Japanese architecture and collecting woodblock prints along the way. In these clips, Professor of Architecture Ken Tadashi Oshima describes Wright’s trip and the Japanese architectural techniques that inspire his later work.

Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright closes in 1 month! Visit now to hear more experts and artists discuss the prolific architect and the photographers who documented his work. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is our collaborating partner in this exhibition

Object Info:

1. The Sutra Library, Chion-in Temple, Kyoto, Frank Lloyd Wright, Collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, Chicago
2. The photo album from the Wrights’ 1905 trip to Japan, Collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, Chicago, photo by Robert Heishman
3. Main shrine, Ikuta Shrine, Kobe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, Chicago

12/03/2024

Today is — a chance to reflect on what we value and invest in what we want to see grow and thrive in the future. We hope you will consider supporting the Driehaus Museum and our mission of making extraordinary art, architecture, and design accessible to all.

This year, we added 30,000 square feet to our campus with the Murphy Auditorium. We opened for free on Wednesday nights and now offer free performances and programs every month during our Third Wednesday Nights. We presented special exhibitions ranging from Tiffany-inspired floral designs to contemporary bronze and concrete sculptural works, an array of rare jewelry collected by Chicagoans, and new scholarship on Frank Lloyd Wright and the impact of photography on his work (open now).

None of this would be possible without your generosity. Keeping the Driehaus Museum a unique and vital part of Chicago’s cultural landscape is collaborative work – we hope you will join us this Giving Tuesday!

To support our work, please visit https://driehausmuseum.org/support/donate

🎥 original video by Siskel/Jacobs Productions. Visit our youtube channel to see the full version!

❄️Drie-cember events❄️Visit https://driehausmuseum.org/programs for more info!12/4 & 12/5 A Nativity Tribute: Derived fr...
12/02/2024

❄️Drie-cember events❄️
Visit https://driehausmuseum.org/programs for more info!

12/4 & 12/5 A Nativity Tribute: Derived from the timeless Langston Hughes gospel song-play, Black Nativity, this tribute will feature your favorite artists, music, and holiday cheer from our partners at the African American Museum of the Performing Arts.

12/7 & 12/8, 12/14 & 12/15 Holiday Market: Browse through a market curated by Refine Collective showcasing a variety of unique gifts, handmade crafts, and delicious treats from local vendors. Get into the holiday spirit with live music, hot cocoa, and activities for all ages.

12/11 Holiday Trunk Show: Shop vintage jewelry and fashion accessories from Antique Collections & Kissyboo Collections.

12/14 Santa Saturday: Join Santa in our Front Parlor, share your Christmas wish list, and take selfies with jolly old St. Nick. This magical, family-friendly event will fill up fast so make sure to book early.

12/18: Hygge Silent Book Club: Bring a book of your choice to our first-ever Silent Book Club! Get hygge with us in this book club - inspired by Scandinavia’s cozy yule traditions. Cookies and warm beverages will be served!

12/01/2024

It’s Museum Store Sunday! Shop local this year & visit the Driehaus Museum store to grab gifts for everyone on your list 🎁🎄💃

Address

50 E Erie Street
Chicago, IL
60611

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/driehausmuseum

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